Biden to meet with eastern NATO allies after Putin's nuclear warning

Biden arrived in Warsaw late Monday after an unexpected visit to Kiev just days before the anniversary of Ukraine's Russian occupation on February 24, 2022.

During the period of the highest tension between Russia and the West in decades since the Cold War, Beden addressed thousands of people in downtown Warsaw on Tuesday and said “aucrats” as Russian President Vladimir Putin must be rejected.

A few hours ago, Putin gave long remarks charged with criticism of Western powers, blaming them for the war in Ukraine. Putin also withdrew from the new START arms control treaty, and warned that Moscow could resume nuclear tests.

On Wednesday, Beden will meet with US Embassy staff in Warsaw before gathering leaders of Bucharest's ninth, countries on the eastern NATO wing that joined the Western military alliance after they were dominated by Moscow during the Cold War. Most are among the strongest supporters of the military aid to Ukraine, and officials from the group countries have sought additional sources such as air defence systems, Reuters reports, broadcast Klakosova.tv.

At the meeting, Beden plans to reaffirm their security commitments and discuss support for Ukraine before returning to Washington.

Russia considers NATO, which could soon expand to include Sweden and Finland, as an existential threat.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda's message to Biden will be that he wants “US involvement in Europe, the eastern NATO wing and, of course, more help for Ukraine,” told Lithuanian radio Tuesday his main foreign policy adviser.

“Lithuania and other countries with the same opinion have several requirements, which concern air protection, the presence of defence ahead, air protection systems and larger investments in the defence industry”, Asta Skaisgiryte said.

The former Soviet republic on Russia's threshold joined NATO in 2004, and plans to host Beden in July for the summit of security alliance leaders.