He will support Ukraine “as long as it takes”: Joe Biden travels to Poland on Tuesday and Wednesday with a firm “message” for Vladimir Putin, a year after the start of the war and at a decisive moment in the conflict . Is it a coincidence? On Tuesday, the day when the American president will speak during a solemn address at the palace in Warsaw, the Russian president has also planned to speak.
From this emblematic place in Polish history and three days before the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, Joe Biden will want to “send a message to (Vladimir) Putin as much as to the Russian people”, a doorman said on Friday. – White House spokesman, John Kirby. “We can proudly say that our support for Ukraine remains unwavering and that (…) the international coalition supporting Ukraine is stronger than ever,” he said, repeating that the United States United would support Kiev “as long as necessary”.
As an echo, French President Emmanuel Macron – with whom Joe Biden is due to speak next week – called on Friday to “intensify” support for Ukraine, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz – who will be received at the White House on March 3 – pleaded for faster tank deliveries, he who has long been accused of dragging his feet in support of the Ukrainian army.
$100 billion
Upon his arrival in Warsaw on Tuesday, Joe Biden will meet Polish President Andrzej Duda, head of state of a country which plays a key role in the military support system piloted by the United States. The American president will also see, on Wednesday, the so-called “Nine from Bucharest” group, a group of Eastern European countries and Baltic countries that are members of NATO (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania , Poland, Romania, Slovakia).
For this head of state, undoubtedly surrounded by the strictest security system in the world, there are no plans for an incursion into Ukraine, nor a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the White House assured. The United States are by far Ukraine’s leading supporters: the military, economic and humanitarian aid they have provided or approved since the beginning of the conflict exceeds 100 billion dollars.
Behind these dizzying figures, the Americans have evolved their military assistance towards heavier and more sophisticated equipment: first anti-tank missiles, then precision artillery batteries and now light armor, before heavy tanks later . Washington knows the conflict is at a “decisive” moment, the White House spokesman said, with the end of winter approaching.
“Speed”
“We need speed. Speed to conclude our agreements, speed of deliveries to strengthen our fight, speed of decisions to limit Russian potential”, urged Friday Volodymyr Zelensky, who fears a large-scale Russian offensive as soon as the weather is good. more lenient. “Hard to blame him,” said John Kirby. “We too know that the clock is ticking.” Joe Biden must also defuse fears about the future of American support.
The president, who plans to run again in 2024, lost control of one of the two Houses of Congress in November to the Republican opposition, some of whose members are threatening to question aid to Ukraine. Without so far really shaking the political consensus. “We are committed to helping Ukraine. Not for vague moral reasons … but rather because America’s fundamental interests are at stake,” Republican Senator Mitch McConnell said on Friday. at the Munich Security Conference.
“The (elected) eccentrics are attracting media attention, but I think the vast majority, including Republicans in the House, want to continue supporting Ukraine,” said influential Democratic Senator Sheldon. Whitehouse in an interview with AFP.