Speech of leaders: As President President Biden of US make visits to Ukraine and Poland respectively.
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| Joe Biden: US President |
UKRAINE
PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY OF UKRAINE: (As interpreted.)
Mr. President, fellow ladies and gentlemen, journalists and everyone in this room, the team of President Biden: I’m very happy to welcome you in Ukraine. It is a great honor for me and for all of us.
We have just had negotiations with the President of the United States in the vis-à-vis format, and then we had a wide discussion with the involvement of our teams. These conversations brings us closer to the victory.
And we hope that this year, the 2023, will become a year of victory. This unprovoked and criminal Russia’s war against Ukraine and against the whole world and democratic world has to end with liberating the whole of Ukraine’s territory from Russia’s occupation and the solid guarantees of the long-term security for our country as well as Europe and the whole world.
Right now, in Ukraine, the destiny of the international order based on international order is decided. And we, together with President Biden and our allies and partners, have to continue doing everything possible so that the democratic world would win in this historic fight.
Ukrainian remember the focus, the attention, the attitude of President Biden and United States to every single Ukrainian. To Ukraine, we remain constantly in communication with the President of United States over the course of this large-scale war. And this is the first visit over 15 years. And this is really the most important visit of the whole history of Ukraine-U.S. relationship.
This is the visit in this most difficult period for Ukraine when Ukraine is fighting for our own liberty, for the liberties of the world. And this underlines the results that we have already achieved and what sort of historic achievements we might gain altogether with the whole world, with the United States, with Europe. And today our negotiations were very fruitful. We’ve — they were very important and crucial.
And as has become traditional in relationship between our countries, I would like to extend words of gratitude personally to Mr. President Biden and to his team, to the Congress, to all the U.S. people. And I thank you for this level of Ukraine-U.S. cooperation.
And this week, we’ll be marking a one year of our fight against Russia’s aggression, so it’s very symbolic that we solidify our resilience through two meetings with the President of Ukraine — my visit in December and the visit of Mr. President of the United States to Kyiv today.
The results of this visit will surely be seen and will surely have a reflection on the battlefield and in liberating our territories.
The decision of the United States on Abrams tanks for Ukraine has already presented a foundation for establishing a tank coalition. And it’s of historic importance in many other aspects, more specifically in air defense, in Patriots for the defense of our cities. Now, this is a very fundamental and crucial reinforcement of our capacities.
We’ve also talked about long-range weapons and the weapons that may still be supplied to Ukraine, even though it wasn’t supplied before.
I know, Mr. President, that there will be a very significant package of security support to Ukraine. And currently, it will serve as a clear signal that Russia’s attempts of relaunch will have no chance and that we will together defend our cities and citizens from Russia’s (inaudible), will have more impetus towards our victory.
And today we have yet again underlined that we have our common vision with regards to the perspectives of this war. We have coordinated the follow-on pressure on the terrorist state. We are working hard on the reinforcement of sanctions, both bilaterally and in the form of G7, which is very important.
We have common vision on the contents of many aspects of our Peace Formula, because its security elements, as well as the tasks to restore the U.N. Charter to its full capacity and to defend the international rule-based order — that’s a common, joint task for all the countries that are interested in the international security.
The rebuilding and the recovery of justice is also very important for all those who was affected by the Russian terror, by the Russian war. And the aggressor has to take responsibility for the aggression and to reimburse all the damages.
I thank to the President of United States for supporting our work on restoring the justice more specifically in the work of all of our institutions in that area. And we believe there’s no alternatives to the establishment of the special tribunal. This is the position of the Uni- — of Ukraine, and we shall support this position.
And I would really like the United States to be engaged in the implementation of our Peace Formula, because its implementation would mean a reinforcement of global stability and the predictability of international relations. And we have some achievements in this area.
Already this week, in New York, together with the United States of America and over 60 other countries will be submitting for the consideration of the U.N. General Assembly — of the draft resolution on supporting peace in Ukraine. And on the eve of the 24th of February, we believe that the approval of this resolution would be very significant evidence to the fact that the terrorist state would never break a civilized country.
And I think we are also opening a special tablet dedicated to President Biden. The first call the night of the 24th of February took place with the United States, and since that time, we had conversations and with very significant attention to our fight, to the protection of Ukraine’s democracy.
Besides, there’s the personal contribution in President Biden in solidified the liberty and democracy in the world. This will be remembered eternally. And Ukraine is grateful to you, Mr. President, to all the U.S. citizens, to all those who cherish freedom just as we cherish them.
Glory to our warriors. Glory to our allies. And glory to Ukraine.
PRESIDENT BIDEN OF US:
Well, thank you very much, Mr. President. You know, it was — it was one year ago this week that we spoke on the telephone, Mr. President. It was very late at night in Washington, very early in the morning here in Kyiv. Russian planes were in the air, and tanks were rolling across your border. You told me that you could hear the explosions in the background. I’ll never forget that. And the world was about to change.
I remember it vividly, because I asked you — I asked you next — I asked you, “What is there, Mr. President? What can I do for you? How can I be of help?”
And I don’t know that you remember what you said to me, but you said, and I quote, “Gather the leaders of the world. Ask them to support Ukraine.” “Gather the leaders of the world, and ask them to support Ukraine.”
And you said that you didn’t know when we’d be able to speak again. That dark night, one year ago, the world was literally, at the time, bracing for the fall of Kyiv — it seems like a lot longer ago than a year, but think back to that year — perhaps even the end of Ukraine.
You know, one year later, Kyiv stands and Ukraine stands. Democracy stands.
The Americans stand with you, and the world stands with you.
Kyiv has captured a part of my heart, I must say. And I’ve come here six times as Vice President, once as President. And in 2009, as Vice President, when I first came here. Then back in 2014, I came three times in the aftermath of the Revolution of Dignity. And I again came in 2015 to address the Rada about the work of building a strong democracy. And I came in 2017, just before I left office as Vice President.
I knew I’d be back, but I wanted to be sure. Even though we’d — the election were over, Barack and I were out of office, I decided to make one more trip, before the next President was sworn in, to Kyiv.
So, President Zelenskyy, you deeply honor me here in Kyiv with you today to meet with your military, your intelligence folks, your diplomatic teams, community leaders who have stepped up and — to help their country in their hour of need.
It’s astounding who stood up. Everybody. Everybody — women, young children — trying to do something. Just trying to do something. Pulling people out of apartments that are being shelled and — literally what I think is a war crimes.
It’s astounding. And the whole world — the whole world sees it and looks at it.
This is the largest land war in Europe in three quarters of a century, and you’re succeeding against all and every expectation, except your own. We have every confidence that you’re going to continue to prevail.
You know, from the moment I first received the intelligence report in the fall, about a year ago, we were focused on determining: How do we rally the rest of the world? How do I help you with the promise you asked me to make to rally the world?
Well, how do you succeed? How do you ever get a world to respond to a prosperous economy, a confident democracy, a secure and independent state?
When united, Americans of all political backgrounds decided that they would step up. The American people know it matters. Unchecked aggression is a threat to all of us.
We built a coalition of nations, from the Atlantic to the Pacific: NATO to the Atla- — in the Atlantic; Japan in the Pacific. I mean, across the — across the world, the number of nations stood up — over 50 — to help Ukraine defend itself with unprecedented military, economic, and humanitarian support.
We united the leading economies of the world to impose unprecedented cost that are squeezing Russia’s economic lifelines.
Together, we’ve committed nearly 700 tanks and thousands of armored vehicles, 1,000 artillery systems, more than 2 million rounds of artillery ammunition, more than 50 advanced launch rocket systems, anti-ship and air defense systems, all defend U- — to defend Ukraine. And that doesn’t count the other half a billion dollars we’re going to be — we’re announcing with you today and tomorrow that’s going to be coming your way. And that’s just the United States, in this piece.
And just today, that announcement includes artillery ammunition for HIMARS and howitzers, more Javelins, anti-armor systems, air surveillance radars that’ll protect Ukrainian people from aerial bombardments.
Later this week, we will announce additional sanctions against elites and companies that are trying to evade sanctions and backfill Russia’s war machine.
And thanks to a bipartisan support in Congress, this week we’re delivering billions in direct budgetary support — billions in direct budgetary support — which the government can put to use immediately and help provide for basic services of citizens.
The cost that Ukraine has had to bear has been extraordinarily high, and the sacrifices have been far too great. They’ve been met, but they’ve been far too great.
We mourn alongside the families of those who have been lost to the brutal and unjust war. We know that there’ll be very difficult days and weeks and years ahead.
But Russia’s aim was to wipe Ukraine off the map. Putin’s war of conquest is failing. Russia’s military has lost half its territory it once occupied. Young, talented Russians are fleeing by the tens of thousands, not wanting to come back to Russia. Not fl- — not just fleeing from the military, fleeing from Russia itself, because they see no future in their country. Russia’s economy is now a backwater, isolated and struggling.
Putin thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. As you know, Mr. President, I said to you at the beginning, he’s counting on us not sticking together. He was counting on the inability to keep NATO united. He was counting on us not to be able to bring in others on the side of Ukraine.
He thought he could outlast us. I don’t think he’s thinking that right now. God knows what he’s thinking, but I don’t think he’s thinking that. But he’s just been plain wrong. Plain wrong.
And one year later, the evidence is right here in this room. We stand here together.
Mr. President, I’m delighted to be able to repay your visit to our country.
In Washington, not long ago, you told us, you told the Congress, quote, “We have no fear, nor should anyone in the world have it.” End of quote.
You and all Ukrainians, Mr. President, remind the world every single day what the meaning of the word “courage” is — from all sectors of your economy, all walks of life. It’s astounding. Astounding.
You remind us that freedom is priceless; it’s worth fighting for for as long as it takes. And that’s how long we’re going to be with you, Mr. President: for as long as it takes.
PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: We’ll do it.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: Thank you. (Applause.)
POLAND
PRESIDENT DUDA OF POLAND: (As interpreted.)
Your Excellency, Mr. President; ministers, distinguished ambassadors, and distinguished guests gathered here today; our dear American friends, our allies.
Mr. President, first and foremost, on behalf of myself and the entire Polish delegation but also on behalf of the entire Polish society and all those present in our country, all the guests, all our friends and neighbors from Ukraine: I would like to thank you for yesterday’s visit to Kyiv. It was spectacular, indeed. A very strategic and very political move. Very crucial indeed. That was a political signal.
Especially for Ukraine, of course, to a large extent, it has boosted their morale — I’m convinced about that — the morale of the defenders of Ukraine and all those who today decide about the defense of Ukraine — like my friend, President Zelenskyy, and his team.
But that was also an extraordinary gesture shown to our Allies within NATO and, generally, people standing on the side of the free world and the entire global public opinion. Also, it was a signal to those who violate international rules, who invaded a sovereign and independent state that is Ukraine, who are bombing houses, who are destroying the infrastructure which is used by people for their everyday lives.
I’m thinking here, unfortunately, about our European neighbors. I’m thinking about Russia. I’m thinking about Russian authorities; about President Putin, who almost one year ago decided to attack a free, independent, and sovereign country on a full scale. He carried out that full-scale attack, because the first attack against Ukraine was carried out in 2014, as a matter of fact. However, after eight years, Vladimir Putin decided to attack Ukraine on a full scale, causing a tragedy and a catastrophe for millions of the inhabitants of Ukraine and causing a huge crisis — both a crisis of security and economic crisis all over the world, and also a humanitarian crisis.
And thus, he doomed millions of people to a tragic fate. Those people had to flee from their country, from bombs, from murders, from rapes — from murders — from horrible, brutal, and bestial treatment from Russian soldiers, unfortunately.
So, having said that, thank you once again for your visit yesterday, Mr. President, because that was a significant sign for all those people — the sign that a free world has not forgotten them; that a free world and its biggest leader, the President of the United States, stands by them.
So I know that perfectly well, Mr. President. I know how big courage it requires. Thank you very much for that. I can imagine it was not easy, especially for all those who are responsible for your security, sir. So, please pass my gratitude to them from me. They’re standing somewhere in the background but, still, that was hard work that they were doing. So, thank you, Mr. President, for that decision.
We are delighted to host you in Poland. This is also a crucially important sign to us, a sign of security.
Tomorrow, we will meet with our allies from the eastern flank of NATO because, to all of us, this visit is crucially important. It is a symbolic visit here to our region. We are seeing it not only as a visit paid here in Poland, it is a visit to our region combined with a visit to Kyiv. It sends a very powerful message of responsibility, which the United States of America carries constantly the responsibility for the security of Europe and the world.
The United States, which has demonstrated on multiple occasions its responsibility for European matters during the First World War, during the Second World War, during the Cold War. Every single time, they restored the democratic rules. Every time, the United States brought back freedom. People were able to restore their freedom, sometimes after tens of years, as it was the case in Poland in 1989.
Thanks to the movement of Solidarity, of course, here in Poland; thanks to the determination of the people; thanks to the influence exerted by Saint John Paul II, whom we admire so much — but we know perfectly well this was brought about thanks to a very decisive American policy conducted by the U.S. authorities, by President Ronald Reagan. And at last, the evil empire collapsed. The Berlin wall collapsed as a result, and we regained our freedom.
So, all of us, we’re looking at what you did yesterday, and we believe that America is able to maintain the global order, to guard the global order, and to show all the aggressors who want to destroy other people’s lives, who want to take control of other countries, who want to enslave other nations — it shows that there is no acceptance of the democratic community, represented by the United States of America, to such behavior, to such acts.
Thank you for that from the bottom of my heart. As I said, it sends a very important signal to us — to us, the Polish people. Your presence, Mr. President, is extremely important from the perspective of the security.
We are delighted that you will give your speech, Mr. President, here in Poland. We are delighted that this message will be sent from here, of you, sir — a message addressed to the whole world, because I’m sure that the whole world is going to follow your speech. Thank you for this decision. We are very glad with it.
On the one hand, it proves how it is important for the United States, how our part of Europe is important to the United States from the ally perspective. But also, to us, it is, to a certain extent, a confirmation that we are doing the right thing. The actions which we have been taking recently vis-à-vis Ukraine, by supporting Ukraine, by sending weapons to Ukraine, by helping Ukrainians, by supporting them in all different ways, it has proved that this is the right path. It has proved that we are supported in this respect by the United States.
We also try to give the support to our neighbors. And we are trying to be not only the ones who have got the security guaranteed by the United States and NATO, but we try to be the ones who are providing the security to other states.
So, the Baltic States, where we are part of the Air Policing mission. We’re providing the security to our allies from Romania, where Polish soldiers are deployed as part of NATO contingent. In Latvia, our soldiers are stationed there as well, and our tanks also are guarding the security of Latvia.
So, simply said, we are trying to demonstrate allied solidarity.
Having said that, I’m even more grateful, Mr. President. Thank you for paying this visit here in Poland, because I believe that the Polish people see it also as an appreciation of the contribution that we have made in the construction of the security in our part of Europe. And we are delighted to be able to host you here today, Mr. President.
This also is a powerful signal to the global and American investors — your presence, sir; your speech, sir — that it proves that Poland is safe and secure. It is a country where you can safely come from the other side of the globe.
But these distances not seem to be that much. Some people might think that this is a dangerous place, but Poland is safe and secure thanks to the presence of the U.S. Armed Forces, thanks to the presence of NATO troops, and also thanks to our efforts to reinforce Poland’s security, Poland’s defense capabilities.
We are implementing all of that. And we’re happy, Mr. President, that your presence here is a visible sign of this presence.
Recently, we were speaking to our allies in Europe. I did it during my meetings, which I had in London and also at the Munich Security Conference. I was saying that these developments and this unique role — which is being played through you, sir, by the United States — shows in a very clear way that a transatlantic bond is of key importance to Europe.
We’re here together with the Polish Prime Minister attending this meeting. The Polish Prime Minister, who is the head of the government, and, by this function, he has in his hands the responsibility for the parliamentary majority today.
In 2025, Poland will take over the presidency in the European Union. So we want and we will pass a special resolution in May this year. We would like that this resolution marks the anniversary of our presence in the European Union. We would like our presidency to be conducted under the motto of tightening transatlantic bond, want more America and Europe — stronger bonds between the European Union and the United States, more cooperation between the European Union and the United States in economic matters and security-related matters, all which is so important to us.
This difficult time which we are experiencing in Europe right now and this extraordinary role played by the United States is an absolute demonstration of the fact that this is of key importance to the security and to the future development of our continent.
So, we in Poland have made a lot of experiences over the last centuries in our history and especially over the last 100 years in our history have no doubt about that.
So, Mr. President, once again, we are delighted. And a warm welcome to you, sir.
PRESIDENT BIDEN OF US:
Well, Mr. President, thank you very much for that welcome. And any excuse to come back to Poland, I take advantage of. The welcome has always been extremely generous, and — and I appreciate it. And — so thank you for inviting me back to Warsaw at this critical moment.
You know, you mentioned John Paul. I think I told you the story. When I was a young senator, I wrote a report and had a very senior staff member on the Foreign Relations Committee who was — and that was a committee — the next youngest person on that committee was 32 years older than me. And I came back from Europe, and I wrote a report saying that Poland would be free within a matter of a year. And my chief of staff then said, “Please don’t write that because you’re going to look foolish.”
And I got a phone call from John Paul, asking whether I’d meet with him. And as a practicing Catholic, I joked with him that he was more conservative than my views were. And I went to see him, and we finished the conversation, and it was all about Poland. He never once mentioned anything about Catholicism.
PRESIDENT DUDA: (Laughs.)
PRESIDENT BIDEN:
No, I swear. It was a true story.
And we were walking from one end — if you’ve been to the Papal Library, it’s about as wide and as long as this room, with a simple desk at one end and nothing much else.
And as we — he said, “Would you like a photograph?” And I said, “Sure, Your Holiness, I’d — I’d like one.” And we were walking from the desk to the other end; we were having a photograph. And he put his hand under my arm, and he said, “Senator, remember, today I spoke to you as a Pole — a proud Pole. Not as your Pope, as a Pole.” (Laughs.)
So, I realized the power of Poland all across the board.
Look, all kidding aside, I — that happens to be a true story.
But, you know, I was here last year, and we visited the base where Polish and American troops were, and standing side by side, showing our strength and determination.
The truth of the matter is: The United States needs Poland and NATO as much as NATO needs the United States, because there is no way in which — for our ability to operate anywhere else in the world, and our responsibilities extend beyond Europe, we have to have security in Europe. It’s that basic, that simple, that consequential.
And so, it’s the single-most consequential alliance, and I would argue maybe the most consequential alliance in history, that — not just modern history, but in history.
And — and so, I made it clear that the comments of the United States and our Allies as partner — the commitment is real and that, a year later, I would argue NATO is stronger than it’s ever been.
I — as I told President Zelenskyy when we spoke in Kyiv yesterday, I can proudly say that our support for Ukraine remains unwavering.
And as I told my Russian counterpart not — well, it was a while now — I said, “You’re seeking the — the Finlandization of NATO. You’re going to get the NATOization of Finland.” And it turns out I didn’t know Sweden was coming along as well.
PRESIDENT DUDA: (Laughs.)
PRESIDENT BIDEN: But all kidding aside, I think we’re in — if we keep our head and we are focused, I think we’re in a better position than we’ve ever been.
And I want to thank you, President, for how Poland is supporting Ukraine. It’s been extraordinary, Mr. Prime Minister, what you’ve done. Truly extraordinary.
Last year, when I was here watching people come across the border and the feeling that — those little children, the looks on their faces; those mothers who — left behind husbands and fathers. It was just incredible the way you welcomed them. What is it? 1.6, 1.7 million Ukrainians you’ve welcomed.
And, you know, we — and we reaffirmed our — our ironclad commitment to NATO’s collective security, including guaranteeing that the command headquarters for — for our forces in Europe are going to be in Poland, period.
And we’re also launching a new strategic partnership with plans to build nuclear power plants and bolster Poland’s ener- — energy security for generations to come.
And, Mr. President, the connection between Polish and Ame- — Polish and American people is extremely strong and deep.
I was kidding with the President. I was — as a young man, I was born in a coal town of Scranton, Pennsylvania, in northeastern Pennsylvania, in an Irish Catholic neighborhood. Then when coal died, we moved down to Delaware, to a town called Claymont, Delaware, which was a working-class town. And — but everyone in town was either Polish or Italian. I grew up feeling self-conscious my name didn’t end in an “s-k-i” or an “o.”
But all kidding aside, the connection between — I was telling the President the pride, the overwhelming demonstrable pride that Polish Americans feel about Poland and the role you’re playing now. We were talking about it. It’s extreme.
PRESIDENT DUDA: Yeah.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: It is — it is — you would be — if you haven’t seen it, you should come and see it.
And — and so, there’s a lot of challenges that we have to face, but I’m confident we can do it together and develop our partnership even further as we meet the challenges we’re about to face. I’m absolutely confident in that.
So, it’s a delight to be back, and I’m anxious to get our discussion going, although the President and I solved all the problems in the other room a moment ago. (Laughter.) There’s nothing left to solve.
But all kidding aside, this is a critical, critical, critical, critical relationship for the United States. And we thank you for all the cooperation and help.
