Washington had warned Russia of President Joe Biden's trip to Ukraine a few hours before

The United States had warned Russia of President Joe Biden's visit to Ukraine in advance of his departure to avoid any conflict, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters.

 

The American president arrived in Kiev on Tuesday for an exceptional visit to Ukraine, the first since the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022. The trip was organized in the greatest secrecy.

 

Joe Biden left an air base near Washington early Sunday morning. However, White House communications director Kate Bedingfield said she could not disclose how the U.S. president got to the Ukrainian capital until "the trip was fully completed. »

 

According to Jake Sullivan, the visit "required additional logistical and operational security measures" throughout the U.S. government to "bring an inherently risky operation to a manageable level of risk. "Of course, there was always risk ... in an undertaking like this, and President Biden felt it was important to make this trip," the adviser said.

 

Only two journalists were allowed to accompany the president. Biden's visit to Kiev -- the first by a U.S. president to Ukraine since 2008 -- follows visits by a number of European leaders to the Ukrainian capital and Zelensky's visit to Washington in December.