Biden thanks Poland for ‘extraordinary’ Ukraine support

Warsaw, Feb 21 (EFE).- US president Joe Biden on Tuesday thanked his Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda, for the help Poland has provided to Ukraine in taking in more than 1.5 million refugees.

Biden also lauded the strength of Nato ahead of the first anniversary of the start of the war being marked later this week.

Biden and Duda met at the presidential palace in Warsaw accompanied by members of their respective governments, with expectations high that Washington would announce an increase of the 11,000 US troops stationed in Poland, although neither leader mentioned the issue in their press statements.

“The United States needs Poland and Nato as much as Nato needs the United States,” Biden said, in a message intended to show Washington’s commitment to the defense of Poland, which shares a 530 kilometer-long border with Ukraine.

Almost a year after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Biden insisted that “Nato is stronger than it’s ever been” and thanked Duda for the “truly extraordinary” support Poland has given to Ukraine in recent months.

In addition, the US leader announced a “new strategic partnership” with Poland to build nuclear power plants to increase future energy production.

Sat across from Biden at a long wooden table, Duda alluded to the US president’s visit to Kyiv on Monday, where he announced an additional $500 million in military aid to Ukraine.

Specifically, Duda said that Biden’s trip to the Ukrainian capital, which was kept secret until it was underway, helped “boost the morale” of Ukrainians and sent the message that “the free world has not forgotten them”, three days ahead of the first anniversary of the beginning of the war on February 24.

The Polish leader also said that Biden’s trip to Warsaw is a “visible sign that Poland is safe and secure,” despite the war raging just a few miles away. EFEbpm/ks