President Joe Biden will visit Poland this month to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, returning to the region as the war enters a volatile new phase with no clear path to peace.
The President will visit Poland from February 20th to 22nd. The White House said it would meet with Polish President Duda and other leaders in the region. He speaks ahead of his official anniversary on February 24th.
For weeks, Biden’s aides have been planning how to celebrate the anniversary of the invasion, including a major speech. They want to highlight the resilience of the Ukrainian people, as well as the importance of solidarity in the uncertain months ahead.
A senior White House official said the U.S. president hopes to reiterate U.S. support for Ukraine on a future visit to Ukraine, including clarifying that additional assistance is coming soon.
John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council, said: “He wants to talk about the importance of the determination and unity of the international community in helping Ukraine over the next year.
Prepare to attack: Ukrainian President Volodmir Zelensky is now preparing for an expected Russian military offensive in the spring and is asking Western governments for additional support and weapons, including fighter planes and tanks, to sustain the fighting. are doing. He traveled to London, Paris and Brussels this week to deliver his request in person. This was his rare trip outside the country and gave his appeal a new urgency.
background: Polish President Andrzej Duda said the alliance was “stronger than ever” after the White House announcement.
Biden last visited Poland, a key NATO ally, in April, traveling near the Ukrainian border to visit U.S. and Polish forces. He also met refugees who fled Ukraine after the invasion.
In a speech delivered from the Royal Palace in Warsaw, Biden said for the first time that Russian President Vladimir Putin “cannot stay in power” and went on to call for regime change in Moscow.
