Poland's freedom is America's freedom: Biden

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) – US President Joe Biden on Saturday thanked his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda, telling him that the freedom of the Polish people is also the freedom of Americans, a message seemingly aimed as much at Moscow as at Warsaw.

On a two-day visit to the country, which borders embattled Ukraine and has taken in millions of Ukrainian refugees, Biden also underlined the importance of NATO, calling the bloc’s collective defense agreement a "sacred commitment," said a White House statement.

“President Biden underscored the United States’ unwavering commitment to Article 5 (on collective defense) and to the security of all our NATO allies,” the statement added.

Ukraine has sought more help from NATO in repelling Russian forces, but it is not a member of the alliance. But Biden invoking the US obligation to help protect Poland, a NATO member since 1999, seemed designed to warn Russia off from expanding its hostilities to any members of the bloc.

“The leaders discussed ongoing international efforts to impose powerful sanctions on Russia for its unjustified and unprovoked attack on Ukraine,” the White House added.

“They also discussed their shared commitment to continue supporting the government and people of Ukraine.”

Mentioning that Biden thanked Duda for Poland’s efforts to welcome Ukrainian refugees, the statement said Biden “pledged continued U.S. support to these humanitarian assistance efforts.”

He also noted that Poland is shouldering the brunt of the humanitarian crisis, and that at least 2 million of the 3.5 million people who have fled Ukraine have arrived in Poland.

Biden, who recently promised that the US would accept 100,000 refugees, also said the NATO allies should do more.

They also discussed “robust bilateral defense cooperation, US support for Europe’s efforts to reduce its reliance on Russian energy and to meet our climate goals, and the democratic values on which the transatlantic relationship is based,” it said.

The Russia-Ukraine war, which began on Feb. 24, has met international outrage, with the EU, US and UK, among others, implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.

At least 1,035 civilians have been killed in Ukraine and 1,650 injured, according to UN estimates, while cautioning that the true figure is likely far higher.

More than 3.7 million Ukrainians have also fled to neighboring countries, with millions more displaced inside the country, according to the UN refugee agency.