**US President Biden’s Farewell Speech Leaves Ukrainians Wanting More**
Outgoing US President Joe Biden gave a farewell speech from the White House on January 15, highlighting his administration’s achievements. However, despite being one of the world’s biggest international crises during his term in office, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine was only mentioned once.
In his speech, Biden listed his administration’s accomplishments, including strengthening NATO and providing military assistance to Ukraine. He said that “Ukraine is still free” and that they had pulled ahead of their competition with China. However, this statement was met with criticism from Ukrainians, as Russia continues to occupy a significant portion of Ukrainian territory.
**Criticism Over Delayed Aid**
The Biden administration provided Ukraine with $65.9 billion in military assistance since the full-scale invasion began. However, this aid has been criticized for being delayed and not enough. The speed of decision-making in the White House was also questioned, particularly when it came to providing big-ticket weapons like heavy tanks, F-16 fighter jets, and long-range missile strikes.
**Ukrainian Assessments**
We spoke with Ukrainians about their assessment of Biden’s presidency and his legacy regarding the full-scale invasion. Olexiy Haran, a professor at Kyiv Mohyla University, said that while the US provided significant aid to Ukraine, it was not enough to prevent Russia’s aggression.
Khrystia Vengryniuk, an author and book publisher, shared her personal experience during the war in Mariupol. She criticized the international community for not intervening sooner to stop the destruction of the city.
Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of the parliament’s foreign affairs policy committee, expressed disappointment that Ukraine was only mentioned once in Biden’s farewell speech. He called for more optimistic and encouraging words from the outgoing president regarding Ukraine’s future.
**Ukrainians Want More**
The reactions of Ukrainians to Biden’s farewell speech were mixed, with some expressing gratitude for the aid provided by the US, while others felt that it was not enough. They want more support and encouragement from the international community as they continue to struggle against Russian aggression.
