The Presidents of the US and Russia dedicate the day to meetings focused on strengthening international diplomatic alliances
The Presidents of the United States and Russia dedicated Wednesday (22nd) to meetings aimed at strengthening international diplomatic alliances.
It was Putin’s fashion: stadium full. The event in Moscow marked Defender of the Fatherland Day, Russia’s national holiday. With 200,000 supporters, President Vladimir Putin said all of Russia supports the country’s military fighting in Ukraine. And called out to the soldiers to know about this pride.
In a more formal setting, Putin received China’s top diplomats. Wang Yi reiterated Chinese support for Russia. He said that relations between the two countries remain solid and that they are not subject to thirdparty interference.
- Putin says war will continue, poses new nuclear threat and says ‘impossible to defeat Russian troops’
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At the same time, he declared that the Chinese government wanted to help find a political way out of the war. Putin said he looks forward to a visit from Chinese President Xi Jinping, which was arranged earlier this year.
These diplomatic meetings, events with the people and strong speeches are more intense this week in Europe both on the Russian side and among the Ukrainian allies. Only a few days separate us from a symbolic date: Friday (24th) marks the anniversary of the beginning of the war. And whoever is still traveling around Europe to show political support for Ukraine is the President of the United States.
Joe Biden spent another day in Poland. He met with leaders of the nine Western Military Alliance countries located in Eastern Europe, geographically closer to Russia. These are countries that either integrated the former Soviet Union or were part of the Cold War communist bloc.
Biden said they are the ones on the front lines of NATO’s defenses. And what is at stake in the Ukraine conflict is the freedom of democracies across Europe and the world.
Biden tried to reassure allies: “America’s commitment to NATO is crystal clear. We will defend literally every inch of Alliance territory,” Biden said.
The host, President of Poland Andrzej Duda, recalled that the meeting took place on the eve of a yearlong war, which he believed changed the history of this part of Europe forever.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: “A year after the invasion, President Putin is not preparing for peace he is preparing for more war.”