PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — President Joe Biden made a surprise trip to Ukraine Monday morning, something that moved a member of the Ukrainian community in Philadelphia.
Biden’s visit to meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came four days before the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Don't grow tired of supporting Ukraine,” said Eugene Luciw, the president and chairman of the board of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America’s Philadelphia branch.
Although he said he is not a Democrat like Biden, he was happy to see the president spend a few hours in Ukraine, where he announced millions of dollars in additional support on Monday.
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“Freedom is priceless,” Biden said. “One year later, Kyiv stands, and Ukraine stands. Democracy stands. The Americans stand with you, and the world stands with you.”
Since the war began, tens of thousands of people have been killed. Tens of thousands more have been hurt, displaced, or missing. Those facts have led many Ukrainians here in America to have conflicting emotions.
“On one hand, you have the anger. You have the fear, you have the concern and the worry for friends, relatives, brothers, and sisters in Ukraine. You have all of these negative emotions,” admitted Luciw.
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“Through it all, you have tremendous pride and admiration for the Ukrainian people. I mean, these are our people and look what they've done. They've withstood the largest army in Europe.”
As the war continues, he longs for America and the world community to continue and even expand its support of Ukraine.
“A rebuilt Ukraine with all of the technology that's there, the human resources, the agriculture, the military strategic, minerals, the oil, the gas, everything that Ukraine is will then be in the western world and with us as our best friend. So continue to invest in her,” he said.
Numerous events to mark the one-year anniversary are planned for Philadelphia and beyond, including:
- Thursday, 10 p.m.: A “Light Will Win Over Darkness” silent gathering at People’s Plaza near the Liberty Bell.
- Friday, 6 p.m.: A candlelight vigil at the UECC Ukrainian Center in Jenkintown.
- Friday, 8 p.m.: A Freedom Motorcade at the UECC Ukrainian Center.
- Saturday, 2 p.m.: A rally marking the one-year anniversary at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. A bus trip has been organized from Philadelphia, but it has sold out.
- Sunday, 11:30 a.m.: A Calendar of War commemoration at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.