U.S. President Joe Biden after his speech in support of Ukraine at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Poland February 21, 2023. WOJTEK RADWANSKI / AFP
After the picture the sound. After the physical boldness, the words are reminiscent of the setting. The day after a surprise trip to Kiev, Joe Biden delivered a solemn speech on Tuesday, February 21, in the gardens of the Royal Palace in Warsaw, commemorating the first anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine. A heartfelt speech to host country Poland, with empathy for the tortured but rebellious Ukrainian people and resolutely opposed to the Russian invasion. In the cold and in the wind, against the backdrop of the Ukrainian colors, Joe Biden reiterated Washington’s now-elaborate reasoning on Vladimir Putin’s strategic blunders and allied resolve. But these familiar words, uttered in front of thousands of enthusiastic Poles on this special evening, swelled with an extra soul.
“After a year of this war, Putin no longer doubts the strength of our coalition,” said Joe Biden. But he still doubts our conviction. He doubts our staying power. He doubts our continued support for Ukraine. he doubts NATO’s ability to remain united. But there should be no doubt. Our support for Ukraine will not waver, NATO will not be divided, and we will not tire. The US President was clearly aiming at Vladimir Putin, who was speaking in the morning. “A dictator bent on rebuilding an empire can never suppress a people’s love of liberty. Brutality will never destroy the will to freedom. And Ukraine… Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia. Never,” promised Joe Biden.
Also read: Article reserved for our subscribers War in Ukraine: Vladimir Putin ends New Start, the last Russian-US nuclear disarmament treaty
“This is not a rhetorical contest with anyone,” warned National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, referring to Vladimir Putin’s speech. The mirror effect was no less noticeable. The American President picked up a classic, pre-Trumpian vein of American foreign policy speeches and insisted on the word freedom. “We heard rhetoric reminiscent of that of Ronald Reagan, all in black and white, with undertones of the Cold War,” explains Michal Baranowski, president of the Polish office of the organization German Marshall Fund.
audience conquered
In insisting on fighting autocratic regimes, the American President knew he was before a conquered audience. “Autocrats only understand one word. No no no. No, you will not take my land,” he said. Joe Biden paid tribute to both Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Maia Sandu, the Moldovan President, as well as the Belarusian opposition to the regime of Alexander Lukashenko. “Biden has put his credibility on the line in this Ukrainian war,” continues Michal Baranowski. The fact that he went to Kiev alongside Zelenskyy, that he made it clear that the conflict had much more than regional significance, suggests that a defeat for Ukraine would mean both his and the United States’ would be. There is no turning back. Joe Biden is up to his neck invested in this war. »
You still have 60.32% of this article to read. The following is for subscribers only.