What Biden Offered Zelenskyy When Kyiv Was Surrounded

Oct 23, 2026

Zelenskyy revealed that Biden personally offered to evacuate him in the early days of the war, a story that's bad news for anyone who doubted Ukraine's resolve to fight rather than flee.

  • Zelenskyy said Biden was the first world leader to call and offer an evacuation when Russian forces surrounded Kyiv and roads out of the city were being cut off.
  • Russia reportedly suggested Ukraine simply hand over power at that point.
  • Zelenskyy said he turned down the offer and told Biden he needed weapons and ammunition instead, not a ride out of the country.
  • Other European leaders made similar evacuation offers later, which he also declined.

Outlook: This moment is widely seen as the turning point that cemented Zelenskyy's image as a wartime leader and rallied Western military support for Ukraine.

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