© Reuters. U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks forward of the one yr anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, exterior the Royal Castle, in Warsaw, Poland, February 21, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
By Nandita Bose and Alan Charlish
WARSAW (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden will meet leaders of NATO’s japanese flank on Wednesday to indicate help for his or her safety after Moscow suspended a landmark nuclear arms management treaty.
Biden arrived in Warsaw late on Monday after a shock go to to Kyiv simply days forward of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.
During the interval of highest pressure between Russia and the West within the many years because the Cold War, Biden addressed hundreds in downtown Warsaw on Tuesday and mentioned “autocrats” like Russian President Vladimir Putin have to be opposed.
Hours earlier, Putin delivered prolonged remarks laden with criticism of the Western powers, blaming them for the conflict in Ukraine. Putin additionally backed away from the New START arms management treaty – a 2010 settlement that limits the variety of Russian and U.S. deployed strategic nuclear warheads – and warned that Moscow might resume nuclear exams.
On Wednesday, Biden will meet workers from the U.S. embassy in Warsaw earlier than gathering leaders of the Bucharest Nine, the international locations on NATO’s japanese flank resembling Poland, Bulgaria and Lithuania who joined the Western army alliance after being dominated by Moscow in the course of the Cold War.
Most are among the many strongest supporters of army assist to Ukraine, and officers from international locations within the group have known as for extra sources resembling air defence methods.
At the assembly, Biden plans to reaffirm commitments over their safety and focus on help for Ukraine earlier than he returns to Washington.
Russia regards NATO, which might quickly develop to incorporate Sweden and Finland, as an existential risk.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda’s message to Biden shall be that it needs larger involvement of the United States in Europe, NATO’s japanese flank and extra weapons despatched to Ukraine.
“Let’s give Ukraine all the weapons it needs to defeat the aggressor,” Nauseda tweeted on Wednesday.
“Let’s continue building up our own defenses. Eastern #NATO flank must remain in our focus. No soft spots should be left.”
The former Soviet republic on Russia’s doorstep joined NATO in 2004 and plans to host Biden in July for the safety alliance’s leaders’ summit.
Before flying to Warsaw for the assembly on Wednesday, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala reiterated the significance of serving to Ukraine.
“The Ukrainians are fighting extremely bravely,” Fiala mentioned.
“But they cannot do it without our help, and they cannot do it without the help of big, powerful countries that have the means and the ability to do it,” he mentioned.
