Ukraine Will Never Be A Victory For Russia, Says US President Joe Biden In Poland
US President Joe Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine tested all democratic countries.
US President Joe Biden on Tuesday said "Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia" as "Kyiv stands strong and free" nearly one year after Russia invaded the country. Addressing a gathering in Warsaw, Poland, Biden assured that the West's support for Ukraine would not waiver.
"Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia, never," Biden said amid rapturous applaud from the crowd.
"One year ago, the world was bracing for the fall of Kyiv. Well, I have just come from a visit to Kyiv and I can report that Kyiv stands strong. It stands tall. And most importantly, it stands free. From Kherson to Kharkiv, Ukrainian fighters have reclaimed their land," CNN quoted Biden as saying.
He, however, warned that there would "continue to be hard and very bitter days" ahead for Kyiv even as he exuded confidence that its allies would continue to "have Ukraine's back".
The US President, however, rebutted Putin's claims that the West had "ambitions" of seizing "historically Russian lands". Biden clarified that the West was not seeking to control Russia.
"Tonight, I speak once more to the people of Russia. The United States 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," Biden said.
He added, "This war is never a necessity. It's a tragedy. President Putin chose this war."
Biden also said Russian President Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine tested all democratic countries.
"When Russia invaded, it was not just Ukraine being tested. The whole world faced a test for the ages. Europe was being tested. America was being tested. NATO was being tested. All democracies were being tested," he further said.
Biden's address comes a day after he made his first trip to Ukraine since the war began.
Continuing his attack on the Russian President, Biden said while Putin thought the West would depend on Russia's energy supplies, they instead found other markets to end dependence on Russian fossil fuels.
"He thought autocrats like himself were tough and leaders of democracy were tough and then he met the iron will of Americans," Biden said.
"Democracy in the world has grown stronger, not weaker, but the autocrats of the world have gotten weaker," Biden further said.
The US Presidnt also reiterated NATO's commitment to staying united to ensure "Putin's crave and lust for land and power will fail". Biden also said that Putin's war prompted Finland and Sweden to start the process of joining NATO.
"He thought NATO would fracture and divide. Instead, NATO is more united and more unified more than ever before," Biden said as he announced that the United States would host next year's NATO Summit, a high-stakes gathering of world leaders.
(With inputs from BBC, CNN)
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