Following Vladimir Putin’s announcement that Russia would continue its nearly one-year military offensive, US President Joe Biden made a big address in Warsaw in which he pledged that Russia would never win the conflict in Ukraine.
Putin stated that the Kremlin would no longer be a party to the New START nuclear armaments deal with the United States during his annual state of the nation speech on Tuesday. He also accused the West of intensifying the crisis.
The Russian president declared that tougher sanctions against his nation “will not succeed” and vowed that his nation will continue to battle to “systematically” accomplish its goals.
Hours later, Biden said that “Ukraine will never be a success for Russia — never” in the capital of NATO member Poland.
Days before the war’s one-year anniversary, the 80-year-old leader paid a surprise visit to Kyiv. It was his first trip there since the invasion started.
Biden responded to Putin’s charges openly while surrounded by a mob waving flags outside Warsaw’s Royal Palace, claiming that the West “is not scheming to invade Russia.”
Putin, he claimed, “thought autocrats like himself were tough,” but he had to contend with the “iron will” of the US and its allies.
There should be no ambiguity over our continued support for Ukraine, the unity of NATO, or our resolve.
Prior to that meeting, Biden met with Polish President Andrzej Duda and stated that his visit came “at a key moment.”
He also reaffirmed Washington’s “iron-clad” adherence to the collective defence tenet of NATO.
We “can see that America can keep the world order” because of Biden, according to Duda.
‘Irresponsible’
Widespread worldwide condemnation followed Putin’s decision to stop taking part in New START, although the Russian foreign ministry later stated that Moscow will continue to abide by the treaty’s constraints in a “responsible manner”.
The 2010 agreement is the world’s only active arms control agreement between the two nuclear superpowers.
Russia’s action was “very sad and reckless,” according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, but Washington was still open to discussing it.
Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO, said, “We have demolished the entire armaments control system.”
Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, tweeted his appreciation for Biden’s speech as well as “all of America for their leadership in rallying the world in support of democracy and for their crucial help to Ukraine.”
“Ukraine, the United States, and our entire coalition of triumph stand together and brave.”
Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, and Zelensky met on Tuesday in Kyiv.
Even if her right-wing government coalition has some pro-Russian feeling, Meloni vowed that Rome “does not aim to waver” in its support for Ukraine.
She said that for the time being, sending fighter jets, which Zelensky has argued is essential for putting an end to the war, is “not on the table.”
Important moment
The leaders of nine eastern NATO nations, who fervently support Ukraine, plan to meet with Biden on Wednesday.
The Kremlin began the so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine with the intention of making a swift conquest that would result in the installation of a pro-Russian dictatorship and capitulation.
Since then, despite being forced to concede territory, Russia has continued to launch drone and missile attacks, and the death toll among both military personnel and civilians has skyrocketed.
Some Western sources claim that 150,000 people have died in the conflict—150,000 on each side.
In response to reports of at least five deaths following attacks in the southern city of Kherson, Zelensky denounced Russia for “mercilessly killing” civilians.
Between a bus stop and a store, AFP reporters observed dead bodies on the streets that were covered with plastic sheets or foil blankets.
Kherson is the capital of one of the four territories that Russia claims to have annexed but has never fully controlled, along with Donetsk, Lugansk, and Zaporizhzhia.
Tensions between the Russian military and the Wagner mercenary group have been uncovered in Donetsk as a result of Moscow’s continuous attempt to seize the city of Bakhmut.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the private fighting team, charged military leaders with “treason” on Tuesday for failing to adequately supply his squad.
In retaliation, Russia’s defence ministry provided information on ammunition delivery and blasted “completely fake” rumours of shortages.
It’s “out of control.”
China, on the other hand, expressed its “grave concern” over the dispute, claiming that it was “intensifying and even getting out of control.”
China has made an effort to present itself as a neutral party while still keeping a tight relationship with its ally Russia.
Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat, was in Moscow for discussions and was scheduled to meet with Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, on Wednesday.
According to the official TASS news agency, the Kremlin has stated that Wang may also have a meeting with Putin while in the country.
On Tuesday, Stoltenberg expressed American concerns that China would give Moscow access to weaponry to further its assault in Ukraine.
The Western allies are concerned that they will not be able to provide Kyiv’s artillery with enough shells in time to repel a fresh Russian onslaught.