WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden spoke to a crowd of thousands in Warsaw, Poland, on Tuesday to mark the coming one-year mark since Russia invaded Ukraine, vowing to support beleaguered Ukraine and placing the war in the broader context of a struggle between authoritarianism and democracy.
“One year ago, the world was bracing for the fall of Kyiv,” Biden said at the Warsaw Royal Castle Gardens as the crowd waved Polish flags. “Well I’ve just come from a visit to Kyiv and I can report Kyiv stands strong, Kyiv stands proud, it stands tall and most important, it stands free.”
Biden’s remarks follow a surprise 23-hour visit to Ukraine’s war-weary capital on Monday. Under extraordinary secrecy, Biden traveled by plane, then by train for 10 hours overnight to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in solidarity with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The one-year anniversary of the invasion is Friday.
Tuesday’s speech struck a similar tone to others Biden has made, including one he gave in Warsaw nearly a year ago. Since his 2020 presidential campaign, Biden has posited himself as a champion of democracy, arguing the U.S. and world is at a crossroads.
“When President Putin ordered his tanks to roll into Ukraine he thought we would roll over. He was wrong,” Biden said. “He thought NATO would fracture and divide. Instead NATO is more united, more unified than ever before.”
The remarks further highlighted the U.S. commitment to Ukraine, which aims to repel a renewed Russian assault that began shortly before the one-year anniversary of the conflict.
“One year into this war, Putin no longer doubts the strength of our coalition, but he still doubts our conviction. He doubts our staying power,” Biden said. “But there should be no doubt, our support for Ukraine will not waiver. NATO will not be divided and we will not tire.”
Article source: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/21/ukraine-russia-war-joe-biden-to-speak-in-poland.html