In Poland, Joe Biden promises Western support to Ukraine “will never waver”.

Washington Correspondent

“The appetites of autocrats cannot be appeased. they must be fought against“Joe Biden started from Warsaw on Tuesday. “Autocrats only understand one word: no. No, you will not take my country. No, you will not take my freedom. No, you will not take my future.”

Almost a year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the US president delivered a resolute speech in the Polish capital. “There should be no doubt that our support for Ukraine will not waver, NATO will not split and we will not tire.“, he said. The American president was returning from his surprise visit to Kiev, where he assured President Zelensky that American support to Ukraine would continue. He repeated these assurances in Poland.

Biden’s speech had many recipients. He turned to his European allies to assure them of American resolve; To the American public and, in particular, to a growing proportion of opinion, particularly Republicans, showing fatigue or aversion to supporting Ukraine, and finally to Russia, which is counting on that fatigue and bitter American political divisions to wait. cut off US military support in Kiev and eventually wear it down.

The American president recalled the dramatic events that followed after this attack, and how the predictions were thwarted. “A year ago, the world was preparing for the fall of Kievsaid Biden. I’m back from Kyiv, and I can tell you that Kyiv is holding on.” “Putin believed that autocrats like him were strong and leaders of democratic countries were weak. But he ran into… Something we wouldn’t have thought possible a year ago. The democracies of the world have become stronger, not weaker“.

Biden put the conflict in a more global context and recalled the stakes of the first war of conquest Europe has known since World War II, and the world’s most serious challenge to the sovereignty of nations. probably after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1991.”Russia didn’t just invade Ukraine, it challenged the whole world“, he insisted. “It was Europe that was put to the test, America, NATO and all democratic countries with a simple but profound question. One year later, we have an answer: we have remained strong and united. Yes, we will defend sovereignty…the people’s right to live free from aggression…democracy.”

This war was never necessary. It is a tragedy and President Putin chose it. Every day the war continues is his choice, and he can end the war with just one word. It is very clear: if Russia stops its invasion of Ukraine, the war is over.

Joe Biden

But Biden also knows that while the situation is less dire than it appeared in the first weeks of the war, the outlook remains bleak. First of all, because the war continues. Ukraine resisted the invader, repelling attacks on Kiev. Over the past year, thanks in part to Western and especially American aid, the Ukrainian army has managed to recapture some of its territory, inflicting heavy losses on the Russians and wresting from them the city of Kherson, the only regional capital they had managed. capture at the beginning of the attack.

But despite its setbacks, Russia has given no sign that it is ready to give up. The partial mobilization of conscripts and preparations for a new offensive, but also Putin’s bellicose speeches, offer little prospect of an upcoming ceasefire. And from a more general point of view, Washington has not succeeded in completely isolating Moscow in the international arena. Western sanctions have had a major impact on Russia’s economy. But Russia maintains ties with most non-Western countries, including US allies such as Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey or India. More worryingly, instead of taking the war away from China, the war in Ukraine is helping to take the alliance away from China.without bordersthat Xi Jinping and Putin had declared urbi et orbi from the Beijing Winter Olympics a few weeks before the Russian attack.

The castle is a symbol of trauma

Biden also reminded some obvious facts. First, Vladimir Putin, who said in his speech to the Russian people on Monday that the US and NATO started the war in Ukraine, forcing Russia to defend itself. But also to his political opponents, and to all those on the left and right, in Europe and the United States, looking for hidden explanations or dark machinations behind the conflict, which they also blame Washington and NATO; at the source. “This war was never necessaryBiden insisted.it’s a tragedy and president putin chose it. Every day the war continues is his choice, and he can end the war with just one word. It is very clear: if Russia stops its invasion of Ukraine, the war is over. If Ukraine stops protecting itself from Russia, that is the end of Ukraine. That is why we together make sure that Ukraine can defend itself.»

Defense of freedom is not the work of a day or a year. It’s always hard, and it’s always important

Joe Biden

Biden also thanked Poland, a linchpin of the Atlantic alliance, and Western support for Ukraine, its significant military and economic aid and its hosting of more than 1.5 million refugees. The Warsaw castle, in front of which Biden gave a speech, reminded of the special geopolitical situation of this country. Destroyed and rebuilt several times after each attempt to eliminate the Polish nation, it is a symbol of the trauma of many Eastern European countries. “Today we are living again what the Polish people and the peoples of all Europe have known for decades“, the American president said.

Biden finally urged allies not to be discouraged or weary by the length of the war. “Defense of freedom is not the work of a day or a year. It’s always hard, and it’s always important”, warning that the conflict is far from over. “There will still be difficult and bitter days, victories and tragedies. But Ukraine continues to fight back, and the United States, along with our allies and partners, will continue to stand by it as it fights back.“.

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