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Biden in Warsaw praises US-Poland ties as Russia wages war in Ukraine

21.02.2023 15:30
US President Joe Biden on Tuesday praised his country's relationship with Poland, saying that Warsaw was a critical NATO ally for Washington as Moscow waged war against Kyiv.
Polish President Andrzej Duda (right) and US President Joe Biden (left) meet in Warsaw on Tuesday, February 21, 2023.
Polish President Andrzej Duda (right) and US President Joe Biden (left) meet in Warsaw on Tuesday, February 21, 2023.Photo: PAP/Andrzej Lange

During a visit to Warsaw, Biden reassured Polish leaders that NATO's "pledge of security" was an "ironclad commitment" amid Russia's war in neighbouring Ukraine.

He also thanked Poland for its support of Ukraine. "It is just incredible the way you’ve welcomed 1.6, 1.7 million Ukrainians," he said.

“We’ve reaffirmed our ironclad commitment to NATO’s pledge of security, including guaranteeing that the command headquarters for our forces in Europe are going to be in Poland, period," Biden said during a meeting with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda at the presidential palace in Warsaw.

"We’re also launching a new strategic partnership with plans to build nuclear power plants and bolster Poland’s energy security for generations," he added.

"The United States needs Poland and NATO as much as Poland and NATO need the United States," Biden also said.

'America can keep the world order': Polish president

Meanwhile, Poland's Duda said that Biden's visit to Warsaw was an important sign of America's commitment to maintaining security in Europe, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

"Your visit is an important sign of security, a signal of US responsibility for the security of the world and Europe," the Polish president told Biden during their bilateral meeting.

"America can keep the world order," Duda added.

The bilateral talks between the Polish and US presidents in Warsaw on Tuesday focused on Russia's war in Ukraine and the security of the eastern flank of NATO, officials told reporters.

Biden to make major speech in Warsaw

Later on Tuesday, Biden was expected to make a major address to the Polish people in the gardens of Warsaw’s historic Royal Castle to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The US embassy in Warsaw has said that Biden "will deliver remarks ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, addressing how the United States has rallied the world to support the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and democracy, and how we will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes."

While in Poland, Biden is expected to attend a summit of the Bucharest Nine (B9) group of eastern-flank NATO allies on Wednesday.

During his visit, Biden will also hold talks with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and meet with US embassy staff, according to the White House.

Biden arrived in Warsaw late on Monday for a busy two-day trip including talks with the Polish head of state and a meeting with NATO allies to discuss the West's response to Russia’s nearly year-old invasion of Ukraine.

Surprise trip to Kyiv

Biden landed at Warsaw's Chopin Airport at around 11:15 p.m. on Monday after earlier making a surprise trip by train to war-torn Ukraine, news outlets reported.

US President Joe Biden touched down in Warsaw late on Monday for a busy two-day trip to discuss the West's response to Russia’s nearly year-old war against Ukraine. US President Joe Biden touched down in Warsaw late on Monday for a busy two-day trip to discuss the West's response to Russia’s nearly year-old war against Ukraine. Photo: PAP/Rafał Guz

His unannounced visit to Kyiv was intended as a show of US support for Ukraine as it battles Russia's invasion, officials said.

While in Kyiv, the US president met with Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky and promised USD 500 million worth of new military aid to Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky meet in Kyiv on Monday. US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky meet in Kyiv on Monday. Photo: EPA/PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY 

'Poland has been a strident ally, a tremendous supporter of Ukraine'

John Kirby, the US National Security Council's Coordinator for Strategic Communications, told the media last week that Biden's Warsaw trip was designed to highlight Poland's role in supporting Ukraine.

"Poland has been a strident ally, a tremendous supporter of Ukraine, and a generous host not only to American troops, but millions of Ukrainian refugees who have fled there in safety," Kirby said.

He added: "The President wants to thank President Duda in person. He wants to thank the Polish people in person. He wants to make broader points about how it’s important for the kind of courage and unity we’re seeing out of Poland and so many NATO Allies continues, sadly, into what will now be a second year of war."

Photo: Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

Biden previously visited Poland in March last year, shortly after the start of the war in Ukraine.

In a major speech in Warsaw at the time, he told the world that Vladimir Putin "cannot remain in power" amid Russia's brutal war against Ukraine.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Tuesday marks the 363rd day of Russia’s full-scale assault on Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, TVP Info, CNN