[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] U.S. President Joe Biden is reportedly considering a visit to Europe next month, marking one year since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
On the 26th (local time), NBC News reported, citing multiple government officials, that President Biden is reviewing plans to visit Europe next month, including Poland, a country bordering Ukraine, on the anniversary of the outbreak of the Ukraine war.
President Biden's visit is interpreted as a show of support for Ukraine, which is fighting against Russia's invasion, and to demonstrate international solidarity. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 last year.
However, Biden's trip to Europe has not yet been confirmed. The White House National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson also told NBC that "there are no plans at this time." If the visit takes place, President Biden is expected to meet with major European leaders and deliver a unified message to support Ukraine. Biden's last visit to Europe was in September last year to attend Queen Elizabeth II's funeral.
Whether he will set foot in Ukraine is also a point of interest. Since the outbreak of the war, President Biden has visited border areas such as Poland but has not visited Ukraine itself.
Along with this, the Biden administration is also discussing announcing a new major military aid package to Ukraine on the war's first anniversary. The day before, the U.S. announced plans to deploy the previously cautious M1 Abrams main battle tanks. This essentially means supporting most conventional forces except fighter jets. The specific details of the new military aid have not been disclosed.
One official said, "We are planning schedules related to the first anniversary of the war and exploring various options the U.S. can take to support Ukraine, but nothing has been decided yet."
Meanwhile, on the same day, the U.S. Treasury Department designated the Russian mercenary company Wagner Group, which is believed to have received weapons from North Korea, as a major international criminal organization and expanded sanctions. Companies related to the Wagner Group in Russia, China, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were also added to the sanctions list. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated, "The expanded sanctions on the Wagner Group and its affiliates will help curb Putin's war capabilities."
The U.S. State Department also announced sanctions against the Wagner Group and its international organizations and imposed visa restrictions on 531 Russian military personnel.
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