US President Joe Biden spoke on Tuesday in the Polish capital Warsaw.
Here he attacked Russia’s war against Ukraine, and not least Putin’s rhetoric about the war.
A large number of people had turned up at the venue to hear Biden and Polish President Andrzej Duda speak.
– One year ago, the world was preparing for the fall of Kyiv. I just came from there. Kyiv stands strong, Biden asserted, saying that Europe, the United States and NATO were being tested by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
– More united than ever
He then asked himself whether the Western world would respond or look the other way, whether the West would be strong or weak and divided or united.
– The world did not look the other way. We also face fundamental questions about our obligations. We will stand up for democracy. One year later, we know the answer. We will stand up for sovereignty, democracy, said the president.
– Putin thought Nato would be divided, but Nato is more united than ever before. He thought he would get a Finlandisation of Nato. Instead, he got Finland and Sweden to join NATO.
Biden believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin believed the West would fail to stand together.
– He was wrong. The Ukrainians were too brave. We were too united. Democracy was too strong.
– Putin can end the war with one word
– Putin is confronted with something he did not think possible a year ago – a world where democracies have grown stronger, and where autocracies have weakened.
The war in Ukraine continues, and on Friday it will be one year since Russia went to war against the neighboring country.
– Putin still doubts our persistence and our continued support for Ukraine. But there should be no doubt. Our support will not fail.
The American president also put all the blame and responsibility on Russia’s leader, President Putin, for the war in Ukraine.
– Putin chose this war. It was his choice. He can end it with one word, he asserted from the podium.
Russia, and Putin most recently today when he addressed the Russian people, has accused the West of wanting to destroy the country.
– Tonight I say once again to the Russian people: the UN and the nations of Europe are not planning to destroy or threaten Russia.
Accuses Russia of war crimes
