US President Joe Biden met with Polish President Andrzej Duda on Tuesday as he began a series of consultations with allies from NATO’s eastern flank to prepare for an even more complicated stage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The meeting with Duda comes hours after Vladimir Putin threatened to take the war across its current boundaries. Putin said the more international weapons are handed to Kyiv, the farther Moscow will be forced to move the “threat from our borders.
In his hour-long speech, the Russian President also accused the West of starting the war in Ukraine.
He said: “I would like to repeat, they started the war and we used force in order to stop it.
“I would like to emphasise when Russia tried to find a peaceful solution they were playing with the lives of people and they were playing a dirty game.”
Duda greeted Biden as he stepped out of his limo in a damp courtyard at the presidential palace here.
In his speech, Biden taunted Putin as he argued the invasion of Ukraine had contributed to strengthening the NATO military alliance rather than causing it to collapse.
He also noted the war had pushed Finland and Sweden to apply for membership of the alliance in a further snub to Moscow.
Biden said: “NATO is stronger than it’s ever been. As I told President Zelensky when we spoke in Kyiv yesterday, I can proudly say our support for Ukraine is unwavering.
“And as I told my Russian counterpart should the seek the finalisation of NATO, you’re going to get the NATO-alisation of Finland.”
He added: “Turns out I didn’t know Sweden wad coming along as well.
“All kidding aside, if we keep our head and keep our focus, I think we’re in a better position than we’ve ever been.”
Last March, the US President delivered a forceful and highly personal condemnation of Vladimir Putin at the Royal Castle just weeks after the start of the war.
Biden arrived in Warsaw on Monday after paying an unannounced visit to Kyiv on a mission to solidify Western unity as both Ukraine and Russia prepare to launch spring offensives.
The conflict has already left tens of thousands of people dead, devastated Ukraine’s infrastructure system and damaged the global economy.
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