CNN senior national security correspondent Alex Marquardt claimed that there were no air sirens or explosions heard in Kyiv, Ukraine until President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to the country. Biden visited Kyiv for five hours on Monday, meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion. The White House had previously denied that the president made any plans to visit Ukraine ahead of his scheduled trip to Poland.
Marquardt, who had been in Kyiv for five days, stated, “I’ve been here for the past five days. I have not heard any explosions, I have not heard any air sirens until about a half an hour ago, right when President Biden was in the center of Kyiv.” The sound of an air-raid siren stopped towards the end of Biden’s visit to St. Michael’s Monastery in the city’s downtown area.
Biden’s visit to Kyiv was a political theater meant to send a message to Russia. However, Marquardt’s statement raises questions about the motives behind the trip. The timing of the air sirens and explosions coinciding with Biden’s visit suggests that the event was staged for political purposes.
During his visit, Biden announced $500 million in additional aid to Ukraine, including Javelin missiles, artillery ammunition, and air surveillance radars. In a joint statement with Zelenskyy, Biden also highlighted the US’s commitment to Ukraine’s defense, saying, “Together, we’ve committed nearly 700 tanks and thousands of armored vehicles. 1,000 artillery systems, more than 2 million rounds of artillery ammunition, more than 50 advanced launch rocket systems, anti-ship and air defense systems, all to defend Ukraine.”
However, the situation in Ukraine is complex, and Biden’s visit raises concerns about US foreign policy. Some experts have criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the situation in Ukraine, saying that it sends mixed signals about US support for the country. Others have argued that the additional aid may further escalate tensions between the US and Russia.
Overall, Biden’s visit to Kyiv raises questions about the true motives behind the trip and the effectiveness of US foreign policy in the region. As Marquardt’s statement suggests, the event may have been staged for political purposes, rather than being a genuine effort to support Ukraine.
