President Joe Biden meets with leaders from Poland and Ukraine on Wednesday and assures the eastern bloc NATO allies of security concerns. The meeting was done with agenda to extend support to eastern European countries for their war against Russia.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Poland’s President Andrzej Duda alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and Hungary’s President Katalin Novak pose for a group photo during the NATO Bucharest Nine (B9) Summit, during Mr. Biden’s visit to Poland to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, February 22, 2024. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
In his initial remarks following Putin’s declaration on Tuesday, Biden criticized Russia’s choice to leave the New START deal. Following Moscow’s termination of talks meant to save an accord that both sides have accused the other of violating late last year, the decision to cease Russian cooperation with the treaty’s nuclear warhead and missile inspections was made.
Biden wrapped up his four-day trip to Ukraine by highlighting these issues to the leaders of the Bucharest Nine, a group of countries in the most eastern regions of the NATO alliance that banded together in response to Putin’s 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
With war situations continuing in Ukraine, concerns among the Bucharest Nine nations have increased. Many of these countries fear a Russian victory would mean military action against them. Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia are the members of the alliance.
“When Russia invaded, more than simply Ukraine was put to the test. In a speech delivered on Tuesday to commemorate the solemn anniversary of the Russian invasion, Biden stated, “The whole world faced a test for the ages. “Europe was put to the test. America was put to the test. NATO was put to the test. Every democracy was put to the test.
In response to NATO members’ worries that they might be the next, Biden on Tuesday they reaffirmed America’s unwavering commitment to the MDT and Ukraine’s security.
The autocrat’s appetites cannot be satisfied, he declared. “They must be against them.”
Right-wing populist leader Viktor Orban of Hungary, who last week said that the European Union was partially to blame for the extension of Russia’s war in Ukraine, has objected to sanctions against Moscow and arming Kyiv. President Katalin Novák attended the meeting with Biden in place of Orban, who was skipping it.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis claimed that despite all concerns raised “The B9 is stronger than ever”.
Putin in his speech on Tuesday attacked the Ukrainian government and its Western friends. The Russian president also declared that Moscow would stop signing on to the arms control pact with the United States. The accord was already on life support, but the action is anticipated to have an immediate impact on U.S. visibility into Russian nuclear activity.
President Maia Sandu of Moldova, who last week alleged that Moscow was behind a conspiracy to destabilize her government using foreign saboteurs, met with Biden on Tuesday in Warsaw.
The Eastern European country shares historical connections to Russia, one of the poorest in Europe and bordered by Romania and Ukraine, but wants to join the 27-nation European Union. Biden in the meeting extended full support to Moldova’s application to join the EU.
In his speech on Tuesday, Biden praised Sandu and her home nation of Moldova, saying, “I’m delighted to stand with you and the freedom-loving people of Moldova.”
Moldova, a former Soviet republic with a population of around 2.6 million, has worked to develop tighter connections with its Western allies ever since Moscow invaded Ukraine almost a year ago. It received EU candidate status in June of last year, the same month as Ukraine did.
Last week, Sandu made public remarks regarding a Russian scheme “to subvert the constitutional order.” Once Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that his nation had thwarted Russian secret services’ plot to destroy Moldova, she spoke out. Later, those assertions were verified by Moldovan intelligence agents.
Many experts believe that a part of the speech was an endorsement of Europe’s assistance in helping Ukraine fend off Russia’s ongoing invasion, and part of it was a stern warning to Putin that the United States won’t stand for Moscow’s defeating Ukraine.
Over the past year, the White House has praised several eastern flank nations, notably Lithuania, Poland, and Romania, for stepping up efforts to support Ukraine with arms and economic assistance while also taking in migrants.
Poland’s actions have received significant attention from Biden. Almost 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees are being hosted in the nation, which has also pledged $3.8 billion in economic and military aid to Kyiv.
During discussions with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Biden remarked, “the United States needs Poland and NATO as much as NATO needs the United States.”
