The Atlantic

Biden Went to Kyiv Because There’s No Going Back

The president’s surprise visit sent a message to Moscow—and to European leaders.
Source: Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP / Getty

An American AWACS began the skies west of Ukraine last night; Kyiv was locked down this morning. Motorcades crisscrossed the city and rumors began to spread. But although it was clear someone important was about to arrive, the first photographs of President Joe Biden—with President Volodymyr Zelensky, with air-raid sirens blaring, with St. Michael’s Square in the background—had exactly the impact they were intended to have: surprise, amazement, respect. He’s the American president. He made an unprecedented trip to a war zone, one where there

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