WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden heads to Poland on Monday to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and to once more guarantee the Ukrainian those who the U.S. will stand with them for so long as it takes.
The three-day journey, Biden’s second to Poland in lower than a yr, comes as Russia has began what is anticipated to be a fierce spring assault in Ukraine and as polls present support softening among the American public for offering Ukraine with weaponry and direct help.
The newest
The place is Biden heading? Biden will keep in Warsaw for everything of the journey, and has no plans to go to Ukraine, which he is but to step foot in because the warfare erupted. Poland is a important ally, having welcomed 1.5 Ukrainian refugees throughout the warfare and offering Ukraine $3.8 billion in assist.
What’s on Biden’s agenda? Biden plans to meet Tuesday with Polish President Andrzej Duda to talk about his nation’s logistical position in getting navy assist to Ukraine and collective efforts to bolster deterrence efforts among the many NATO alliance. He additionally plans to meet Wednesday with allies on NATO’s jap flank to reaffirm U.S. assist for the safety of alliance. He isn’t scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Biden to ship speech: Biden plans to give a speech on Tuesday forward of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. His remarks will tackle how the U.S. has rallied the world to assist the folks of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and democracy, the White Home stated.
Prime takeaways
Biden’s go to to Poland comes simply days forward of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia invaded its neighbor on Feb. 24, 2022, in an unprovoked assault that triggered the most important battle in Europe since World Conflict II. One yr later, the warfare reveals no indicators of ending.
Biden has labored to rally worldwide assist round Ukraine and punish Russia for its aggression. The U.S. has hit Russia with a barrage of sanctions meant to cripple its economic system and has despatched billions of {dollars} in navy and financial help to Ukraine. Final month, for instance, Biden introduced the switch of 31 Abrams tanks to thwart an anticipated Russian spring offensive and provoke European allies.
Now, Zelenskyy is pushing for the U.S. to ship Ukraine F-16 fighter jets, however the Biden administration has indicated no such plans. “No,” Biden advised reporters Jan. 31 when requested if the U.S. plans to ship warplanes.
Americans rising weary of warfare in Ukraine
Americans seem to be rising drained of offering Ukraine with weapons and financial help.
Forty-eight p.c of Americans surveyed stated they favor the U.S. offering weapons to Ukraine, whereas 29% have been opposed and 22% stated they’re neither in favor nor opposed, in accordance to a poll released last week by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. In Might 2022, lower than three months into the warfare, 60% of U.S. adults stated they have been in favor of sending Ukraine weapons.
In December, Zelenskyy traveled to Washington for a White Home assembly with Biden and later addressed Congress, thanking the USA for its contributions however stressing extra was wanted. Zelenskyy additionally met with European leaders earlier this month to thank them for his or her assist and ask for additional commitments.
Biden’s second journey to Poland as president
That is Biden’s second journey to Poland in lower than a yr. Final March, simply weeks after the warfare in Ukraine began, Biden traveled to Warsaw to current a united entrance with U.S. allies towards Russian aggression. He also met with Ukrainian refugees, together with youngsters who requested him to “say a prayer for my dad or my grandfather or my brother.”
Essentially the most noteworthy second got here on the finish, when Biden stated throughout a speech on the Royal Fortress in Warsaw that Russian President Vladimir Putin “can’t stay in energy.” Biden’s aides shortly tried to stroll the remark again, insisting the president was not selling regime change. However some analysts speculated that Biden could have been saying out loud what he silently believes.
What the White Home is saying
Biden’s viewers: John Kirby, spokesman for the Nationwide Safety Council, stated Biden’s remarks might be directed at Americans, the Polish folks and different allies. “And I think you will hear him messaging Mr. Putin as nicely and the Russian folks.”
No finish in sight: “He can finish it now,” Kirby stated of Putin, “simply by pulling his troops out. He has proven no indication of being keen to do this.”
Downplaying critics: Kirby rejected the premise that assist for Ukraine is waning, downplaying critics as a “small quantity” of Home Republicans and saying all U.S. assist has been “in full session and coordination with Congress. There is not any such factor as a clean test. We’re all doing it collectively.”
Need to know extra? Here is what you missed
U.S. SENDS UKRAINE ITS MOST LETHAL ARMORED WEAPON: As Biden seeks to avoid wider war, delivery of M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine escalates conflict
BIDEN URGES ALLIES TO STAND TOGETHER: Biden tells NATO allies in Brussels to ‘stay unified’ as he backs booting Russia from G-20
A GAFFE OR AN ESCALATION?: Biden prompts concern after saying Putin ‘cannot remain in power’
PUTIN ‘WON’T STOP’ WITH UKRAINE: Why Americans should care about Russia’s aggression against its neighbor
Michael Collins covers the White Home. Observe him on Twitter @mcollinsNEWS.
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine war fatigue hits Americans as Biden plans to mark anniversary
