Kiev is strong, Kiev is proud, it stands tall and above all it is free: Biden gives a fighting speech in Warsaw

U.S. President Joe Biden assured Tuesday that war-torn Ukraine will "never be a victory for Russia," during a speech in Poland just before the first anniversary of the Russian invasion.

 

A dictator determined to rebuild an empire can never undermine a people's love of freedom, brutality will never crush the will of those who want to remain free," Biden insisted. "Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia - never," he hammered in front of thousands of people gathered in front of the Royal Castle in Warsaw.

 

Speaking a day after his surprise trip to the Ukrainian capital, Biden stressed that Kiev is still standing. "Kiev is strong, Kiev is proud, it stands tall and most importantly it is free," he told the crowd waving Polish, Ukrainian and American flags.

  

The U.S. head of state responded to an anti-Western speech delivered Tuesday morning by Russian President Vladimir Putin. "The West is not plotting to attack Russia as Putin said today," he assured. "The millions of Russian citizens who only want to live in peace with their neighbors are not the enemy. »

 

Vladimir Putin "thought that autocrats like him were tough and leaders of democracy were soft, then he came up against the iron will of America and nations around the world who refuse to accept a world ruled by fear," he said. "There should be no doubt: our support for Ukraine will not waver, Nato will not be divided and we will not let go," assured the American president.

The official visit to Poland is Biden's second in the last 12 months. On Wednesday, he will meet in Warsaw with the leaders of nine countries on NATO's eastern flank.