Warsaw and Brussels this week to try to stop Russia’s war against Ukraine spiraling into an even greater disaster.
Biden set out Wednesday for a four-day trip to test his ability navigate the continent’s most severe crisis since 1945 . Russia may use chemical and nukes if its invasion is hampered by logistical issues and the fierce Ukrainian resistance.
Biden stated that he believes Russia is a threat to chemical weapons. Before departing for Brussels, he had a brief conversation with reporters at White House.
As well, humanitarian challenges are increasing. Millions have fled fighting by crossing into Poland. The war has also hampered Ukraine’s wheat and barley harvests. This has raised the possibility of increasing hunger in poor areas all over the world.
On Wednesday, as Biden was making his way to Brussels, his top diplomat declared that Russia had committed war crimes against Ukraine.
Biden was accompanied by Antony Blinken, Secretary of State. He stated that the assessment was based on a careful review of intelligence and public sources following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last month. He stated that the U.S. would provide this information to allies, partners, and international institutions charged with investigating allegations of war crimes or crimes against humanity.
Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security advisor, stated that the president would work with allies to provide military assistance for Ukraine as well as new sanctions against Russia.
Biden is considering a new option for sanctions, which would include targeting hundreds of Russian State Duma members, the lower house, of the parliament. According to a U.S. official, who spoke under anonymity to discuss the move before any announcement. According to the official, a final decision had not been made yet and new sanctions would be implemented in coordination with Western allies.
Sullivan stated that Russian oligarchs would be among those to be named in the new sanctions, which will be revealed on Thursday.
Sullivan said that Biden is making long-term plans to increase defenses in Eastern Europe. More countries are afraid of Russian aggression. The president also wants to decrease the continent’s dependence on Russian energy. The president’s priorities in Europe are to ensure that allies and the U.S. remain on the same page.
“What we would love to hear is that the resolve and unity we have seen over the past month will last for as long as necessary,” Sullivan said to reporters while on Air Force 1 en route from Brussels.
Sullivan stated that Vladimir Putin’s reference to nuclear weapons at beginning of conflict is “something we have to be concerned about” and that Biden would be speaking with allies to discuss “potential responses” if he takes such a step.
Sullivan’s description about Biden’s trip is another indication that the crisis has entered a new phase.
The war against Ukraine has been a frustrating endeavor for Putin. He relies on artillery and airstrikes to destroy civilian communities after the initial invasion failed. The cease-fire and path to an end to the conflict have not been reached through negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and the U.S. continues rushing weapons to the Ukrainian forces.
The war’s ripple effects have also been spreading. Biden warned Russia that cyberattacks could be planned and he talked to Xi Jinping to warn him not to support Russia financially or military. A top State Department official visited India this weekend, shortly after India decided to buy more Russian oil.
Timothy Naftali of New York University, a presidential historian, said that “This is one the decisive moments for an American president that defines their legacy international.”
Americans are also increasingly seeing the crisis as one that will demand economic sacrifice.
The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research has released a new poll that shows that a majority of Americans are ready to take damage to the economy if it stops President Vladimir Putin from invading. A poll by AP-NORC found that 48% now believe the U.S. should play a “major” role, up from 26% when the invasion started.
Another 46% believe the U.S. should play a “minor” role. This percentage has fallen from 20% to 13%
Biden left for Europe after public health officials noted an increase in COVID-19-related cases worldwide.
Jen Psaki (Biden’s press secretary) announced Tuesday that she will not travel to Europe with Biden after being tested positive for the virus twice in five months. Psaki stated that she met with Biden twice on Monday and is not considered to be a close contact under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
Biden’s first stop will be Brussels, where he will attend back-toback-toback meetings.
NATO has called for an emergency summit to quickly organize, at which Biden will likely reiterate his support of Article 5 of its charter, which commits all alliance members to collective defense in the event of attack.
“I believe the meeting of all heads state and government in NATO ( will provide us yet another platform for demonstrating our unity, support to Ukraine, and also our readiness to defend and protect all NATO allies,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday to NBC’s “Meet the Press.” We are stopping an escalation in the conflict to full-fledged warfare between NATO and Russia by sending this message.
Biden will also be attending meetings of the European Union, the Group of Seven and other important international organizations. This group includes some of the most powerful democracies in the world.
On Friday, he will travel to Warsaw to meet Polish officials and discuss the immense humanitarian strain that has been caused by the Ukrainian refugee crises. Biden will meet with Andrzej Da, the Polish President, on Saturday.
Duda, whose country was subject to a horrific Nazi occupation in World War II, compared Russian actions against Ukraine to Adolf Hitler’s infamous SS troops. Duda visited Bulgaria Tuesday and said that Putin’s army was “behaving exactly the same”. He expressed hope that civilians who were attacked by Putin’s forces would be brought before international justice.
Polish leaders are pushing for a Western peacekeeping force to enter Ukraine. This is something that the U.S., along with other Western allies, fear could lead to an increase in the war. The Polish leadership wants a stronger military presence on NATO’s eastern flank.
Sullivan stated that Biden’s visit to Poland was an opportunity to meet with a frontline, very vulnerable ally. Sullivan suggested that Biden might also visit these troops in Poland.
Biden’s trip to Poland is in continuation of Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to Warsaw, Bucharest and Bucharest earlier in the month. Duda called upon the Biden administration while Harris was in Poland to expedite visa processes for Ukrainians with relatives in the United States, so they could settle in the U.S. temporarily.
