President Biden is planning a trip to Europe around February 24, which will mark one year since Russia invaded Ukraine, Administration sources have told reporters.
No trip is confirmed and details have yet to be finalized. But one official tells CNN that a stop under consideration is Poland, a key NATO ally currently housing thousands of U.S. troops and has served as a hub for Western weapons transfers as well as the grounds for the U.S. to train Ukrainian troops. Poland has also taken in the bulk of Ukrainian refugees.
The goal, according to officials, is for Biden to mark the one-year milestone by drawing attention to Ukraine’s resilience against Russia’s brutal military campaign and to reaffirm U.S. solidarity with the Ukrainian people as the conflict enters a new phase.
Administration officials have also discussed announcing another major military aid package for Ukraine to coincide with the one-year mark, sources told NBC News.
However, given the security concerns, it is unlikely Biden would visit Ukraine, according to officials.
Vice President Kamala Harris is also expected to be in Europe next month attending the Munich Security Conference, where the war in Ukraine will be the top subject of discussion among world leaders.
News of the President’s plans to visit Europe follows announcements this week by the U.S., Germany and Poland to send dozens of M1 Abrams and Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine, which is fighting to regain ground against momentum by Russia in the eastern Donbas region.
