President Joe Biden, who just got back from a trip to Kyiv, was supposed to reassure U.S. allies on Tuesday that the U.S. supports Ukraine and will strengthen NATO’s eastern flank as the anniversary of Russia’s invasion gets closer.
After a dramatic visit to Kyiv, where he met President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who wants more weapons for a spring offensive against Russia, Biden arrived in Warsaw late on Monday.
Biden was supposed to meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda to talk about helping Ukraine and to thank Poland for its military and humanitarian aid.
Duda’s advisor on foreign policy said they would also work on Poland’s security and send more resources from the transatlantic military alliance there.
Marcin Przydacz told TVN 24 that NATO’s infrastructure would be discussed.
On Feb. 24, Biden will raise support for Ukraine as the war approaches its second year.
“President Biden will make it clear that the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine, as you’ve heard him say many times, for as long as it takes,” said White House national security spokesperson John Kirby.
On Monday, the State Department announced $450 million in artillery ammunition, anti-armor equipment, air defense radars, and $10 million in energy infrastructure for Ukraine while Biden was in Kyiv.
But Biden denied Ukraine’s fighter aircraft request.
A White House official said more measures on people and companies “seeking to avoid sanctions and backfill Russia’s war machine” will be announced later this week.
Biden visited Kyiv the day before Russian President Vladimir Putin’s big address. He expected to establish goals for the second year of what he now terms a proxy war against Washington and NATO’s military power.
Biden told wary friends a year ago that a major Russian force buildup near Ukraine’s borders might lead to conflict. Even his administration predicted Ukraine’s capital would fall fast if invaded.
Instead, Ukrainian soldiers held Kyiv and drove Russia out of part of the land it took in the early stages of the conflict, supported by enormous amounts of Western weaponry, ammunition, and equipment.
U.S. officials warn the conflict may go months or years despite sending over $24 billion in security support.
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