https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/02/21/remarks-by-president-biden-ahead-of-the-one-year-anniversary-of-russias-brutal-and-unprovoked-invasion-of-ukraine/
Remarks by President Biden Ahead of the One-Year Anniversary of Russia’s Brutal and Unprovoked Invasion of Ukraine
Warsaw, Poland
5:39 P.M. CET
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Poland! (Applause.) One
of our great allies. President Duda, Prime Minister — Mr. Prime
Minister, Mr. Mayor, and to all the former ministers and presidents, as
well as mayors and Polish political leaders from all across the country:
Thank you for welcoming me back to Poland.
You know, it was
nearly one year ago — (applause) — nearly one year ago I spoke at the
Royal Castle here in Warsaw, just weeks after Vladimir Putin had
unleashed his murderous assault on Ukraine. The largest land war in
Europe since World War Two had begun. And the principles that had been
the cornerstone of peace, prosperity, and stability on this planet for
more than 75 years were at risk of being shattered.
One year ago,
the world was bracing for the fall of Kyiv. Well, I have just come
from a visit to Kyiv, and I can report: Kyiv stands strong!
(Applause.) Kyiv stands proud. It stands tall. And most important, it
stands free. (Applause.)
When Russia invaded, it wasn’t just Ukraine being tested. The whole world faced a test for the ages.
Europe
was being tested. America was being tested. NATO was being tested.
All democracies were being tested. And the questions we faced were as
simple as they were profound.
Would we respond or would we look
the other way? Would we be strong or would we be weak? Would be — we
would — would we be — all of our allies — would be united or divided?
One year later, we know the answer.
We did respond. We would be strong. We would be united. And the world would not look the other way. (Applause.)
We
also faced fundamental questions about the commitment to the most basic
of principles. Would we stand up for the sovereignty of nations?
Would we stand up for the right of people to live free from naked
aggression? Would we stand up for democracy?
One year later, we know the answers.
Yes, we would stand up for sovereignty. And we did.
Yes, we would stand up for the right of people to live free from aggression. And we did.
And we would stand up for democracy. And we did.
And
yesterday, I had the honor to stand with President Zelenskyy in Kyiv to
declare that we will keep standing up for these same things no matter
what. (Applause.)
When President Putin ordered his tanks to roll into Ukraine, he thought we would roll over. He was wrong.
The Urai- — the Ukrainian people are too brave.
America, Europe, a coalition of nations from the Atlantic to the Pacific — we were too unified.
Democracy was too strong.
Instead
of an easy victory he perceived and predicted, Putin left with
burnt-out tanks and Russia’s forces in delay — in disarray.
He thought he’d get the Findalization [Finlandization] of NATO. Instead, he got the NATOization of Finland — and Sweden. (Applause.)
He thought NATO would fracture and divide. Instead, NATO is more united and more unified than ever — than ever before.
He thought he could weaponize energy to crack your resolve — Europe’s resolve.
Instead, we’re working together to end Europe’s dependence on Russil [sic] fo- — Russian fossil fuels.
He thought autocrats like himself were tough and leaders of democracies were soft.
And then, he met the iron will of America and the nations everywhere that refused to accept a world governed by fear and force.
He
found himself at war with a nation led by a man whose courage would be
forged in fire and steel: President Zelenskyy. (Applause.)
President
Putin — President Putin is confronted with something today that he
didn’t think was possible a year ago. The democracies of the world have
grown stronger, not weaker. But the autocrats of the world have grown
weaker, not stronger.
Because in the mo- — moments of great
upheaval and uncertainty, that knowing what you stand for is most
important, and knowing who stands with you makes all the difference.
The
people of Poland know that. You know that. In fact, you know — you
know it better than anyone here in Poland. Because that’s what
solidarity means.
Through partition and oppression, when the
beautiful city was destroyed after the Warsaw Uprising, during decades
under the iron fist of communist rule, Poland endured because you stood
together.
That’s how the brave leaders of the opposition and the people of Belarus continue to fight for their democracy.
That’s
how the resolve of Moldovan people — (applause) — resolve of the people
of Moldova to live in freedom gained them independence and put them on
the path to EU membership.
President Sandu is here today. I’m
not sure where she is. But I’m proud to stand with you and the
freedom-loving people of Moldova. Give her a round of applause.
(Applause.)
One year in- — one year into this war, Putin no
longer doubts the strength of our coalition. But he still doubts our
conviction. He doubts our staying power. He doubts our continued
support for Ukraine. He doubts whether NATO can remain unified.
But
there should be no doubt: Our support for Ukraine will not waver, NATO
will not be divided, and we will not tire. (Applause.)
President Putin’s craven lust for land and power will fail. And the Ukrainian people’s love for their country will prevail.
Democracies of the world will stand guard over freedom today, tomorrow, and forever. (Applause.) For that’s what — that’s what’s at stake here: freedom.
That’s the message I carried to Kyiv yesterday, directly to the people of Ukraine.
When
President Zelenskyy said — he came to the United States in December —
quote — he said this struggle will define the world and what our
children and grandchildren — how they live, and then their children and
grandchildren.
He wasn’t only speaking about the children and
grandchildren of Ukraine. He was speaking about all of our children and
grandchildren. Yours and mine.
We’re seeing again today what
the people of Poland and the people all across Europe saw for decades:
Appetites of the autocrat cannot be appeased. They must be opposed.
Autocrats only understand one word: “No.” “No.” “No.” (Applause.)
“No, you will not take my country.” “No, you will not take my freedom.” “No, you will not take my future.”
And I’ll repeat tonight what I said last year in this same place: A dictator bent on rebuilding an empire will never be able to ease
[erase] the people’s love of liberty. Brutality will never grind down
the will of the free. And Ukraine — Ukraine will never be a victory for
Russia. Never. (Applause.)
For free people refuse to live in a world of hopelessness and darkness.
You know, this has been an extraordinary year in every sense.
Extraordinary
brutality from Russian forces and mercenaries. They have committed
depravities, crimes against humanity, without shame or compunction.
They’ve targeted civilians with death and destruction. Used rape as a
weapon of war. Stolen Ukrainian children in an attempt to — in an
attempt to steal Ukraine’s future. Bombed train stations, maternity
hospitals, schools, and orphanages.
No one — no one can turn away
their eyes from the atrocities Russia is committing against the
Ukrainian people. It’s abhorrent. It’s abhorrent.
But extraordinarily, as well, has been the response of the Ukrainian people and the world.
One
year after the bombs began to fall and Russian tanks rolled into
Ukraine, Ukraine is still independent and free. (Applause.)
From Kherson to Kharkiv, Ukrainian fighters have reclaimed their land.
In
more than 50 percent of the territory Russia held last year, the blue
and the yellow flag of Ukraine proudly waves once again.
President Zelenskyy still leads a democratically elected government that represents the will of the Ukrainian people.
And
the world has already voted multiple times, including in the United
Nations General Assembly, to condemn Russia’s aggression and support a
just peace.
Each time in the U.N., that vote has been overwhelming.
In
October, 143 nations in the United Nations condemned Russia’s illegal
annexation. Only four — four in the entire U.N. — voted with Russia.
Four.
So, tonight, I speak once more to the people of Russia.
The United States and the nations of Europe do not seek to control or
destroy Russia. The West was not plotting to attack Russia, as Putin
said today. And millions of Russian citizens who only want to live in
peace with their neighbors are not the enemy.
This war was never a necessity; it’s a tragedy.
President Putin chose this war. Every day the war continues is his choice. He could end the war with a word.
It’s
simple. If Russia stopped invading Ukraine, it would end the war. If
Ukraine stopped defending itself against Russia, it would be the end of
Ukraine.
That’s why, together, we’re making sure Ukraine can defend itself.
The
United States has assembled a wor- — worldwide coalition of more than
50 nations to get critical weapons and supplies to the brave Ukrainian
fighters on the frontlines. Air defense systems, artillery, ammunition,
tanks, and armored vehicles.
The European Union and its member
states have stepped up with unprecedented commitment to Ukraine, not
just in security assistance, but economic, and humanitarian, refugee
assistance, and so much more.
To all of you here tonight: Take a
moment. And I’m serious when I say this: Turn on and look — turn
around and look at one another. Look at what you’ve done so far.
Poland is hosting more than 1.5 million refugees from this war. God bless you. (Applause.)
Poland’s generosity, your willingness to open your hearts and your homes, is extraordinary.
And the American people are united in our resolve as well.
All across my country, in big cities and small towns, Ukrainian flags fly from American homes.
Over the past year, Democrats and Republicans in our United States Congress have come together to stand for freedom.
That’s who Americans are, and that’s what Americans do. (Applause.)
The world is also coming together to address the global fallout from President Putin’s war.
Putin
tried to starve the world, blocking the ports in the Black Sea to stop
Ukraine from exporting its grain, exacerbating the global food crisis
that hit developing nations in Africa especially hard.
Instead,
the United States and the G7 and partners around the world answered the
call with historic commitments to address the crisis and to bolster
global food supplies.
And this week, my wife, Jill Biden, is traveling to Africa to help bring attention to this critical issue.
Our commitment is to the people of Ukraine and the future of Ukraine — a Ukraine that’s free, sovereign, and democratic.
That
was the dream of those who declared Ukraine’s independence more than 30
years ago — who led the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of
Dignity; who braved ice and fire on the Maidan and the Heavenly Hundred
who died there; and those who continue still to root out Kremlin’s
efforts to corrupt, coerce, and control.
It’s a dream for those
Ukrainian patriots who have fought for years against Russia’s
aggressions in the Donbas and the heroes who have given everything,
given their lives, in the service of their beloved Ukraine.
I was
honored to visit their memorial in Kyiv yesterday to pay tribute to the
sacrifice of those who lost their lives, standing alongside President
Zelenskyy.
The United States and our partners stand with
Ukraine’s teachers, its hospital staff, its emergency responders, the
workers in cities across Ukraine who are fighting to keep the power on
in the face of Russia’s cruel bombardment.
We stand with the
millions of refugees of this war who have found a welcome in Europe and
the United States, particularly here in Poland.
Ordinary people
all across Europe did whatever they could to help and continue to do
so. Polish businesses, civil society, cultural leaders — including the
First Lady of Poland, who is here tonight — have led with the heart and
determination, showcasing all that’s good about the human spirit.
Madam First Lady, we love you. Thank you all. (Applause.)
I’ll
never forget, last year, visiting with refugees from Ukraine who had
just arrived in Warsaw, seeing their faces exhausted and afraid —
holding their children so close, worrying they might never see their
fathers, their husbands, their brothers or sisters again.
In that
darkest moment of their lives, you, the people of Poland, offered them
safety and light. You embraced them. You literally embraced them. I
watched. I watched the looks on their faces.
Meanwhile, together we have made sure that Russia is paying the price for its abuses.
We
continue to maintain the largest sanctions regime ever imposed on any
country in history. And we’re going to announce more sanctions this
week together with our partners.
We’ll hold accountable those who
are responsible for this war. And we will seek justice for the war
crimes and crimes against humanity continuing to be committed by the
Russians.
You know, there is much for us to be proud of over the —
all that we have achieved together this past year. But we have to be
honest and cleared-eyed as we look at the year ahead.
The defense of freedom is not the work of a day or of a year. It’s always difficult. It’s always important.
As
Ukraine continues to defend itself against the Russian onslaught and
launch counter-offensives of its own, there will continue to be hard and
very bitter days, victories and tragedies. But Ukraine is steeled for
the fight ahead. And the United States, together with our Allies and
partners, are going to continue to have Ukraine’s back as it defends
itself.
Next year, I will host every member of NATO for our 2024
summit in the United States. Together, we’ll celebrate the 75th
anniversary of the strongest defensive alliance in the history of the
world — NATO.
And — (applause) — and let there be no doubt, the
commitment of the United States to our NATO Alliance and Article 5 is
rock solid. (Applause.) And every member of NATO knows it. And Russia
knows it as well.
An attack against one is an attack against
all. It’s a sacred oath. (Applause.) A sacred oath to defend every
inch of NATO territory.
Over the past year, the United States has
come together with our Allies and partners in an extraordinary
coalition to stand against Russian aggression.
But the work in front of us is not just what we’re against, it’s about what we’re for. What kind of world do we want to build?
We
need to take the strength and capacity of this coalition and apply it
to lifting up — lifting up the lives of people everywhere, improving
health, growing prosperity, preserving the planet, building peace and
security, treating everyone with dignity and respect.
That’s our responsibility. The democracies of the world have to deliver it for our people.
As
we gather tonight, the world, in my view, is at an — at an inflection
point. The decisions we make over the next five years or so are going
to determine and shape our lives for decades to come.
That’s true for Americans. It’s true for the people of the world.
And
while decisions are ours to make now, the principles and the stakes are
eternal. A choice between chaos and stability. Between building and
destroying. Between hope and fear. Between democracy that lifts up the
human spirit and the brutal hand of the dictator who crushes it.
Between nothing less than limitation and possibilities, the kind of
possibilities that come when people who live not in captivity but in
freedom. Freedom.
Freedom. There is no sweeter word than freedom. There is no nobler
goal than freedom. There is no higher aspiration than freedom.
(Applause.)
Americans know that, and you know it. And all that
we do now must be done so our children and grandchildren will know it as
well.
Freedom.
The enemy of the tyrant and the hope of the brave and the truth of the ages.
Freedom.
Stand with us. We will stand with you.
Let us move forward with faith and conviction and with an abiding
commitment to be allies not of darkness, but of light. Not of
oppression, but of liberation. Not of captivity, but, yes, of freedom.
May
God bless you all. May God protect our troops. And may God bless the
heroes of Ukraine and all those who defend freedom around the world.
Thank you, Poland. Thank you, thank you, thank you for what you’re doing. (Applause.) God bless you all.
6:00 P.M. CET
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