During the visit, reporters asked Biden what the sight of the Ukrainian refugees at Narodovy Stadium made him think of in everyday dealings with Putin.
After initially trying to downplay a personal rivalry between himself and Putin, Biden has escalated his anti-Putin rhetoric over the past 10 days. Last week, Biden first called Putin a “war criminal” and later described him as “a murderous dictator, a pure thug waging an immoral war against the Ukrainian people.” He also described the Russian invasion of Ukraine as “inhuman”. The US State Department officially said on Wednesday that members of the Russian armed forces had committed war crimes in Ukraine. The decision to file formal charges marks a significant step by the US government after weeks of refusing to officially say the attacks on civilians in Ukraine were war crimes. However, it remains to be seen whether those accused of the alleged crimes will be held accountable and whether Putin himself will be held accountable.
Biden’s recent comments on Putin came as he focused on the refugee crisis in Europe as millions flee their homes in Ukraine. The President met with chef José Andrés and other volunteers in Warsaw at a food distribution site for Andrés’ World Center Kitchen, the non-profit organization dedicated to providing meals after disasters. Biden met with some of the volunteers, some from Europe and some from the United States.
“God love ya,” the President was heard saying to them and asking if he could help them.
More than 3.5 million refugees have fled Ukraine, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, released on Tuesday. A large majority of these refugees have fled to Ukraine’s western neighbors across Europe.
Poland, which borders Ukraine to the west, has registered more than 2 million Ukrainian refugees entering the country, although not all refugees who have come to Poland remain.
During the brief question-and-answer session, Biden recounted how he had been in such places in his life, but said he never ceased to be amazed by “the depth and strength of the human spirit.”
“It’s incredible, it’s incredible. Look at all these little children. I just want to hug me, I just want to say thank you. I mean, it just makes you so damn proud,” he said.
He added, “Each of those kids said something along the lines of, ‘Say a prayer for my father or my grandfather or my brother who is fighting over there. And I remember what it’s like when someone’s in a war zone. Every morning you get up and wonder. You just wonder. And you pray you don’t get that call.”
Russian military pushes appear to have stalled near major Ukrainian cities like Kyiv and Kharkiv, and a senior Russian general says the first phase of their invasion is over and the focus is now shifting to the eastern part of Ukraine. Russia has also failed to establish air superiority in Ukraine and has suffered heavy personnel losses since the invasion began.
“In general, the main tasks of the first phase of the operation have been completed,” Colonel-General Sergei Rudskoy, first deputy chief of the Russian General Staff, said in a briefing on Friday. “The combat potential of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been significantly reduced, which, I emphasize again, allows us to focus the main efforts on achieving the main goal – the liberation of Donbass.”
When asked if the Russians are changing their military strategy in Ukraine, Biden said, “I’m not sure they have.”
This story has been updated with additional reports.
CNN’s Nathan Hodge, Maegan Vazquez, Jennifer Hansler, and Jeremy Herb contributed to this report.