In a speech in Warsaw, US President Joe Biden addressed the Ukrainian ministers present.
Having first outlined the struggle of European countries for liberation from the Soviet Union, he examined the situation in Ukraine and its significance for the world.
Ukraine is now on the front line in the struggle for democracy and freedom.
Then Biden turned on the Ukrainian defense and foreign ministers.
My message to the Ukrainian ministers who are here tonight is: We stand with you. Point.
Biden spoke with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
A dictator who wants to rebuild an empire will not erase the people’s love for freedom. Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia. You want a different future, a brighter future.
But he also extended his hand to the other citizens of Russia:
– Let me say this, if you have the opportunity to hear: you, the Russian people, are not our enemies. I refuse to believe that you support the killing of innocent children and grandparents or accept the bombing of hospitals, schools and maternity wards.
The audacity to use such a lie
In the speech, Biden also went back to what happened before Russian forces entered Ukraine.
– I spoke to him several times before the invasion. He repeatedly said that he had no interest in invading Ukraine. Repeatedly!
But Russia continued to invade Ukraine at the end of February.
Among the reasons Putin gave for the invasion was the lie that Ukraine was ruled by the Nazis. Biden dealt with this, too.
– President Zelensky is democratically elected in free elections. He is a Jew. His father’s family was murdered during the Holocaust.
– Then Putin has the audacity to use such a lie! says the chief.
“For God’s sake, this man can’t keep power,” he said, warning Putin against getting too close to NATO territory.
He was in meetings with Polish and Ukrainian ministers
Saturday earlier Biden was in meetings with the President of Poland, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda earlier on Saturday, Biden stressed the United States’ commitment to NATO’s Article 5 — which states that an attack on one NATO country is an attack on the entire alliance.
– We consider Article 5 a sacred obligation. Nothing to set aside. Biden said it is a sacred duty for every NATO member.
The VG correspondent team in Ukraine is now in Kyiv. This is how the situation in the war-torn capital is described:
“Coffee trailblazer. Certified pop culture lover. Infuriatingly humble gamer.”