Biden to visit Poland as Ukrainian refugee crisis grows: Washington Post

Setting the scene for US President Joe Biden’s trip to Europe, the Washington Post reports that his “decision to visit Poland reflects that country’s position at the epicenter of an intensifying refugee crisis, as about 300,000 Ukrainian refugees have sought safety in Warsaw since the conflict began.”

A reception centre for Ukrainian refugees in the western Polish city of Poznań.

Photo: PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk

Poland has so far taken in more that 2.15 million refugees from Ukraine.

The Washington Post writes that the schedule of Biden’s stay, which begins on Friday, may include a visit to a "refugee camp."

The paper describes Biden’s visit to Poland as “a symbolic appearance in a country whose leaders fear it could be a future target of Russian aggression."

Former US Ambassador to Poland Daniel Fried tweeted on Tuesday: “Everywhere in Warsaw are signs of support for Ukrainians ... Flags. Food & clothing collection points. Poles are taking in Ukrainians. All just happening. As a Polish friend put it, 'Poland is the world’s largest humanitarian NGO.'"

Everywhere in Warsaw are signs of support for Ukrainians & Ukrainians. Flags. Food & clothing collection points. Poles are taking in Ukrainians. All just happening. As a Polish friend put it, “Poland is the world’s largest humanitarian NGO.”

— Daniel Fried (@AmbDanFried) March 22, 2022

(mk/gs)