Biden assures Poland that US support is ironclad

President Joe Biden reassured Poland’s leaders on Tuesday that the United States’ support for Poland is unwavering amidst concerns in Europe over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military aggression near the borders of Ukraine.

Biden, along with Poland’s president and prime minister, convened at the White House to evaluate the security situation and assess the implications of Russia’s recent territorial gains in Ukraine for the tense region.

Polish President Andrzej Duda raised the issue with Biden of encouraging NATO allies to increase their defense spending from 2% of GDP to 3% in response to what he described as “the full-scale war initiated by Russia right near NATO’s eastern border.”

“Russia’s hostile actions against Ukraine have clearly shown that the United States is, and should remain, the leader in security,” he stated. “However, other allies must assume greater responsibility for the security of the alliance as a whole.”

Celebrating Poland’s 25 years as a NATO member, Biden reiterated U.S. support for NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense treaty, which considers an attack on one ally as an attack on all. He affirmed that American support for Poland is firm.

Last month, former President Donald Trump, Biden’s likely opponent in the general election, announced that he would not defend NATO allies who did not meet defense spending requirements and would allow Russia to act without restraint.

The President urged Congress to authorize a bill that would provide $60 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. Although the Senate passed the legislation last month in a bipartisan manner, Republican hardliners in the House of Representatives have delayed its progress.

“We must take action before it is truly too late because, as Poland recalls, Russia will not cease at Ukraine. Putin will continue, endangering Europe, the United States, and the entire free world, in my opinion,” Biden emphasized.

Prior to the meeting, Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, expressed his intention to discuss with Biden the necessity for NATO to enhance its capabilities on its eastern flank to deter Russia.

“NATO must acknowledge that if not today, then in the coming days, the operational capabilities on NATO’s eastern flank must be heightened,” Tusk emphasized on private broadcaster TVN24.

“A strong, equipped Poland, supported by allies, is crucial not only for our security but also for the security of the entire Western world,” Tusk added.

“We are here to reaffirm that Poland remains and will continue to be a steadfast and enduring part of the trans-Atlantic community, regardless of the election outcome in our country,” Tusk assured.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan informed reporters before the discussions that the United States intends to offer 96 Apache attack helicopters for sale to Poland and will authorize a $2 billion direct foreign aid loan for Warsaw.

The upcoming annual NATO summit, set to take place on July 9-11 in Washington, is anticipated to be a topic of discussion.

PLEAS FOR AMERICAN ASSISTANCE

Prior to the talks, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to permit a vote on the Ukraine funds, albeit retracting a previous plea in which he stated that Johnson would bear responsibility if the bill failed and Russian troops advanced.

“If the American aid fails to arrive … Ukraine could face difficulties, potentially requiring the deployment of more American troops in Europe,” he remarked at a Monitor breakfast.

Sikorski also appealed to Johnson’s Baptist faith, highlighting that Russia “persecutes religious minorities, including Baptists,” in areas of Ukraine under Russian occupation.

Sikorski disclosed that Poland had joined a plan led by the Czech Republic to procure 800,000 rounds of ammunition for Ukraine, describing Warsaw’s financial contribution as significant.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason, Steve Holland and Jonathan Landay in Washington, Alan Charlish, Pawel Florkiewicz, Anna Koper in Warsaw; Editing by Nick Zieminski, Alexandra Hudson and Jonathan Oatis)