(Bloomberg Opinion) – US President Joe Biden has hit back at Russian President Vladimir Putin by saying he will never win his war in Ukraine in a speech marking the first anniversary of the Russian invasion.
Fresh from a surprise trip to Kyiv the day before, Biden sought to provide a first-hand account of the country, highlighting his unexpected toughness against Putin.
“I have just returned from a visit to Kyiv and I can say that Kyiv is strong, Kyiv is proud, stands tall and above all is free,” Biden said Tuesday at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Poland, delivering his speech behind bulletproof glass. in front of a crowd estimated at 30,000 people waving Ukrainian, Polish and American flags.
“Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia,” Biden said, adding that the United States and its allies would announce new sanctions against Moscow this week. Biden did not specify the new sanctions.
The first year of the war, launched by Putin on February 24, 2022, defied expectations as Russia failed to invade Ukraine and Kiev’s allies largely stuck by supplying the country with weapons and imposing sanctions aimed at crippling Moscow’s war effort.
Biden warned of “difficult and very bitter days” ahead as Russia prepares a counteroffensive against Ukrainian forces and the United States continues to support Kiev.
“The United States, along with our allies and partners, will continue to support Ukraine in its response,” the president said.
Biden visited the region at a critical time, delivering his speech hours after Putin pledged to continue his war and said Moscow would suspend its compliance with the New START nuclear treaty with the United States. the separatists of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine as independents.
In his speech, Putin blamed the United States and Ukraine for starting the war, a claim denied by Biden.
“U.S. and the nations of Europe do not seek to control or destroy Russia. The West was not plotting to attack Russia, as Putin said today. Moreover, millions of citizens Russians just want to live in peace with their neighbours,” he said. “It was never a necessity. It is a tragedy. President Putin chose this war. Every day the war continues is your choice.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Russia’s suspension of the New START treaty “deeply unfortunate and irresponsible”. Upon taking office in 2021, Biden extended the nuclear treaty by five years. Last month, the State Department accused Russia of violating the terms of the treaty by refusing to allow inspectors into its territory.
Biden also spoke at the Royal Castle in March 2022, a month into the war, when he called the invasion a strategic failure and shocked the world with an off-the-cuff comment suggesting he supported change. diet in Russia.
“For the love of God, this man can’t stay in power,” Biden said of Putin last year.
A White House official at the time was quick to clarify that he meant Putin could not be allowed to wield power over his neighbors or the region, so the president was not encouraging a change of diet.
Original Note: Biden says Putin will never find victory in his war in Ukraine (1)
–With contributions from Jordan Fabian and Josh Wingrove.
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