Poland urges NATO to give Ukraine guarantees for the post-war era
Polish President says NATO guarantees to Ukraine would give the government a sense of security in the face of future adversities.
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Poland's President Andrzej Duda speaks to the media in Downing Street, London, February 16, 2023 (AP).
Prior to US President Joe Biden's visit to Warsaw, Polish President Andrzej 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.
Biden to 'message' Putin in Poland speech: White House
The White House announced on Tuesday that US President Joe Biden plans to give a speech in Poland, a key US ally and fulcrum of many efforts to arm Ukraine and receive refugees. That same day, Putin is scheduled to give a speech in Moscow, three days away from the February 24 anniversary of the military operation.
On the other hand, Biden is scheduled to address his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Warsaw next week while saluting NATO's role in Ukraine as the war reaches its one-year mark.
The president will 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.
Additionally, the White House announced that he wouldl speak with the leaders of Britain, France, and Italy over the phone. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is due in Washington on March 3.
In his speech, Biden is expected to touch on "how the United States has rallied the world to support the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and democracy," National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby said.
"President Biden will make it clear that the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine... for as long as it takes," he told reporters on Friday.
"You'll hear messages in the president's speech that will certainly resonate with the American people, certainly will resonate with our allies and partners, without question resonate with the Polish people," Kirby said.
He added that Biden is expected to be messaging Putin, as well as the Russian people.
Kirby stated that Biden has no plans to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky or travel to Ukraine during the trip, which he has not done due to the tight security surrounding US presidents since the war began.
