Biden expected to visit Poland on anniversary of Russian aggression in Ukraine

The visit, scheduled for 2022 February, comes after showing signs of a reduction in support for continuing military and economic aid of tens of billions of dollars to Ukraine. Russia, meanwhile, is believed to be planning a new offensive on the eve of the first anniversary of the start of the war, and has stepped up its rocket attacks on Ukraine's military and civilian infrastructure in recent weeks.

It is not yet clear whether President Biden may attempt to visit Ukraine as many other Western leaders and members of Congress have done.

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said the US administration “will continue to support the people of Ukraine as long as necessary”.

President Biden visited Poland several weeks after the start of the war on February 24th of last year, where he presented his strong arguments on military support for Ukraine during a speech in front of Warsaw's ike Royal Fortress. At that time, President Biden told Putin: “for God's sake, this man cannot stay in power”, though the White House later withdrew from comments that seemed to be a call for a change of regime in Moscow.

First lady Jill Biden crossed the border briefly on a May trip and met Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska. President Biden, as well as White House officials, have highlighted the unique security challenges that could bring a possible visit by an American president to a country under attack by Russia, which has nuclear weapons.

President Beden in December hosted President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. Ukrainian leader later repeated calls for additional weapons and greater Western support during a speech in Congress. / VOA