Biden says warned Putin of Finland joining NATO
US President Joe Biden claimed from Poland that he had previously warned his Russian counterpart about Finland's accession to NATO.
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US President Joe Biden (L) and Polish President Andrzej Duda wave during a welcoming ceremony ahead of talks at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw on February 21, 2023 (AFP Photo)
In a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden said he once warned Russian President Vladimir Putin about the "NATO-ization" of Finland.
"As I told my Russian counterpart not - well, it's a while now - I said, you're seeking the Finland-ization of NATO, you're going to get the NATO-ization of Finland. Turns out I didn't know Sweden was coming along as well," Biden said at the start of the meeting.
On Ukraine-related matters, Biden thanked Duda for Warsaw's support, adding that "the US needs Poland and NATO as much as Poland and NATO need the US," and that the alliance was "stronger than it has ever been."
The US President landed in Poland on Monday and will be remaining in Warsaw until Wednesday.
He is set to meet with the leaders of the Bucharest Nine on Wednesday, a group of NATO members in eastern Europe - Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.
He is also scheduled to discuss the expansion of NATO infrastructure in Poland.
Read more: Ukraine may lose to Russia without arms from West: Poland's Duda
On another note, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a speech on Tuesday, three days ahead of the year anniversary of the start of the conflict, that Russia is suspending its participation in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START).
Prior to Biden's visit to Warsaw, Polish President Duda urged NATO to provide security guarantees to Ukraine once the country's military hostilities ended, according to the Financial Times on Monday.
In order to provide the Ukrainian government and army "this feeling that NATO supports them," the Polish president indicated that security guarantees "would be Important."
Ukraine is hoping for security guarantees that would obligate NATO's member nations, especially those at the forefront of the alliance such as the US, UK, and France, to provide Ukraine with military support in the event that it ever faces similar adversity.
Read more: Ukraine to receive less than quarter of tanks pledged by West by April
