Biden will frame the Ukraine conflict as a struggle for democracy

In a speech scheduled for Tuesday evening, Vice President Joe Biden is expected to describe the conflict in Ukraine as a fight for democracy.

A day after his unexpected visit to Ukraine, he will deliver his speech in the Polish capital, Warsaw.

His speech comes hours after Vladimir Putin announced Russia’s withdrawal from a key arms control treaty with the United States.

He made the announcement during his address on the state of the nation.

A few days prior to the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the two leaders will deliver competing speeches.

In Warsaw, the president of the United States is expected to emphasize the crucial role that the United States has played in galvanizing Western support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.

However, he will also seek to bolster support for his policy at home, where some politicians have expressed skepticism regarding the scope of U.S. involvement.

In his speech a stone’s throw from the Kremlin, President Putin once more blamed the West for Russia’s invasion, criticizing Western hypocrisy and withdrawal from “fundamental agreements.”

“I’ll say it again: they are responsible for the war, and we’re using force to stop it,” he said to thunderous applause.

Mr. Putin also repeated his unsubstantiated claim that Moscow faced a neo-Nazi threat from Ukraine, which he used as justification for launching his “special military operation.”

Russia will suspend its participation in the New Start treaty, the last remaining nuclear arms agreement between Russia and the United States, he said, adding, “No one should be under the illusion that global strategic parity can be breached.”

Putin delivers a speech LIVE in advance of the Ukraine war anniversary
Before delivering his speech, US Vice President Joe Biden will meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda and other central European allies to discuss bilateral cooperation and strengthening NATO’s defenses against aggression.

After meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, in Kyiv on Monday, and declaring at a press conference that the United States will support Ukraine “as long as it takes”, this is the result.

He stated, “We have every confidence in your continued success.”

In addition, they visited a memorial for soldiers who lost their lives in the nine years since Russia annexed Crimea and its proxies seized portions of eastern Donbas.

Following the visit, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a new $450 million (£373 million) security assistance package for Ukraine, as well as an additional $10 million in emergency assistance to maintain Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

Later this week, a new round of sanctions against individuals and organizations “attempting to evade or resupply Russia’s war machine” will be announced.

The United States is one of Ukraine’s most important allies and has already provided billions of dollars in military aid.

Mr. Biden recently announced that the United States would send 31 battle tanks and longer-range missiles, but has thus far resisted Ukraine’s repeated requests for F-16 fighter jets.

Monday, Mr. Zelensky stated that he had discussed the possibility of the United States sending additional weapons with Vice President Joe Biden.