Comments by President Biden on the Free World's united efforts in support of the people of Ukraine | The White House (2023)

18:16 CET

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Please, if you have a seat, have a seat. (Laughter) If not, go on stage.

Thank you very much. It is a great honor to be here. Mr President, I'm told it's out there somewhere. There you are. Thank you Mr President.

"Do not be afraid." They were the first words of the first public speech given by Poland's first pope after his election in October 1978. They were words that would later define Pope John Paul II. Words that would change the world.

John Paul brought the message here to Warsaw on his first trip home as Pope in June 1979. It was a message of power - the power of faith, the power of resistance and the power of the people.

In the face of a cruel and brutal system of government, it was a message that helped end Soviet oppression in Central and Eastern Europe 30 years ago. It was a message that will transcend the cruelty and brutality of this unjust war.

When Pope John Paul delivered this message in 1979, the Soviet Union was ruling with an iron fist behind an Iron Curtain.

Then, a year later, the Solidarność movement prevailed in Poland. And even though I know he couldn't be here tonight, all of us in America and around the world are grateful for Lech Wałęsa. (Applause.)

It reminds me of philosopher Kierkegaard's quote: "[F]aith sees best in the dark." And there were dark moments.

Ten years later, the Soviet Union had collapsed and Poland and Central and Eastern Europe would soon be free. Nothing about this fight for freedom was simple or easy. It was a long and painful struggle, lasting not days and months, but years and decades.

But we have risen again in the great struggle for freedom: a struggle between democracy and autocracy, between freedom and oppression, between rule-based order and brute order.

In this struggle we must have clear eyes. This fight will not be won in days or months either. We must arm ourselves for the long battle that lies ahead.

Mr President, Mr Prime Minister, Mr Mayor, Members of Parliament, distinguished guests and the people of Poland, and I suspect some people from Ukraine are here: we are - (Applause) - we are gathered here in the royal palace in this city that occupies a sacred place in the history not only of Europe, but also of humanity's relentless quest for freedom.

For generations, Warsaw has been where freedom was challenged and freedom triumphed.

Indeed, it was here in Warsaw that a young refugee, fleeing his homeland of Soviet-ruled Czechoslovakia, returned to speak out and show solidarity with dissidents.

Her name was Madeleine Korbel Albright. She has become -- (Applause) -- one of the most passionate advocates of democracy in the world. She was a friend I ministered with. America's first female secretary of state. She died three days ago.

She fought for basic democratic principles all her life. And now, in the eternal struggle for democracy and freedom, Ukraine and its people are on the front lines fighting to save their nation.

And their courageous resistance is part of a broader struggle for the basic democratic principles that unite all free people: the rule of law; free and fair elections; freedom to speak, write and assemble; freedom to worship as you please; press freedom.

These principles are essential in a free society. (Applause.) But they've always done that -- they've always been under siege. They've always been competitive. Each generation had to defeat the mortal enemies of democracy. Such is the world - because the world is imperfect, as we know. Where the appetites and ambitions of a few always seek to dominate the lives and liberties of the many.

My message to the people of Ukraine is the same one I delivered today to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, who I believe are here tonight: We are on your side. Period. (Applause.)

Today's battles in Kiev, Mariupol and Kharkiv are the last battle of a long struggle: Hungary, 1956; Poland, 1956 and again in 1981; Czechoslovakia, 1968.

Soviet tanks crushed democratic uprisings, but resistance continued until finally, in 1989, the Berlin Wall and all walls of Soviet rule fell. They fell. And the people prevailed. (Applause.)

But the struggle for democracy could not end and did not end with the end of the Cold War.

Over the past 30 years, the forces of autocracy have been revived across the world. Its marks are familiar: disrespect for the rule of law, disrespect for democratic freedom, disrespect for truth itself.

Today, Russia has stagnated democracy - it has tried to do so elsewhere, not just at home. She did this under false claims of ethnic solidarity.

[ambush] neighboring nations.

Putin has the audacity to say that he is “denazifying” Ukraine. It's a lie. It's just cynical. He knows this. And he's obscene too.

President Zelenskyy was democratically elected. he is Jewish His father's family was exterminated in the Nazi Holocaust. And Putin, like all autocrats before him, has the audacity to believe that power will do the right thing.

In my own country, a former president named Abraham Lincoln was opposed to saving our Union in the midst of civil war. He said, "Let's believe that right makes might." "Right makes might." (Applause).

Let's have that faith again today. Let us resolve to use the strength of the democracies to thwart our [sic] slanders - the plans of the autocracy. Let us remember that the test of this moment is the test of all time.

The Kremlin wants to portray NATO expansion as an imperial project designed to destabilize Russia. Nothing is further from the truth. NATO is a defensive alliance. She never sought the downfall of Russia.

In the run-up to the current crisis, the United States and NATO worked for months to engage Russia to avoid war. I met him in person and spoke with him several times over the phone.

Time and again, we have made real diplomacy and concrete proposals to strengthen European security, increase transparency and build trust on all sides.

But Putin and Russia received each of the proposals with disinterest in the negotiations, with lies and ultimatums. Russia was primed for violence from the start.

I know that not all of you believed me and us when we said, “You are going to cross the border. They will attack."

He repeatedly stated, “We have no interest in war.” He assured that he would not move.

He has repeatedly said that he would not invade Ukraine.

It has been said repeatedly that Russian troops are there along the border for "training" - all 180,000.

There is simply no justification or provocation for Russia's choice of war. It is an example of one of the oldest human impulses: the use of brute force and misinformation to quench the thirst for absolute power and control.

It is nothing short of a direct challenge to the rules-based international order that has been in place since the end of World War II.

And there is a risk of a return to the decades of war that ravaged Europe before the rules-based international order was established. We can't fall for that. We can not.

The gravity of the threat is why the West's response has been so swift, forceful and unified, unprecedented and overwhelming.

Quick and punitive costs are the only things that will make Russia change course.

Within days of its invasion, the West joined forces with sanctions to cripple Russia's economy.

The Central Bank of Russia is now blocked by global financial systems, denying the Kremlin access to the war funds it has stashed around the world.

We have targeted the heart of the Russian economy by stopping Russian energy imports to the United States.

So far, the United States has sanctioned 140 Russian oligarchs and their family members and confiscated their ill-gotten gains: their yachts, their luxury apartments, their mansions.

We sanctioned over 400 Russian government officials, including the main architects of that war.

These officials and oligarchs have benefited enormously from Kremlin-related corruption and must now share in the pain.

The private sector is also taking action. More than 400 private multinationals have closed their doors in Russia - left Russia entirely - from oil companies to McDonald's.

As a result of these unprecedented sanctions, the ruble will almost immediately be reduced to rubble. The Russian economy -- (Applause) -- that's true, by the way. It takes about 200 rubles to equal one dollar.

The economy is expected to halve in the next few years. It was ranked - Russia's economy was ranked the 11th largest economy in the world before this flight [sic] - invasion. It won't even make the top 20 in the world any time soon. (Applause.)

Together, these economic sanctions are a new kind of economic policy with the power to inflict damage that rivals military might.

These international sanctions are weakening Russia's strength, its ability to resupply its armed forces and its capability - its ability to project power. And it is Putin - it is Vladimir Putin who is to blame, period.

At the same time, along with these economic sanctions, the western world has come together to provide an incredible amount of military, economic and humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine.

In the years leading up to the invasion, we, the United States, shipped over $650 million worth of weapons to Ukraine before they crossed the border, including anti-aircraft and anti-tank equipment.

Since the invasion, the United States has provided another $1.35 billion in arms and ammunition.

And thanks to the courage and bravery of the Ukrainian people -- (Applause) -- the equipment that we and our colleagues sent was used to devastating effect in the defense of the Ukrainian land and airspace. Our allies and partners also grew stronger.

But as I've made clear: American forces are in Europe - not in Europe to face Russian forces. American forces are here to defend NATO allies.

Yesterday I met with troops serving alongside our Polish allies to strengthen NATO's frontline defenses. The reason we wanted to make it clear is their movement in Ukraine: don't even think about moving into a single inch of NATO territory.

We have a sacred obligation -- (Applause) -- we have a sacred obligation under Article 5 to defend every inch of NATO territory with the full force of our collective might.

And this morning I visited their national stadium, where thousands of Ukrainian refugees are now trying to answer the most difficult question a person can ask: “My God, what will happen to me? What will become of my family?”

I saw tears in the eyes of many mothers as I hugged them; her little children--her little children are not sure whether to smile or cry. A little girl said, "Mr. President" - she spoke some English - "it's my brother and my dad - will they be alright? Will I see them again?" Without their husbands, their parents, in many cases their brothers or sisters who stayed behind to fight for their country.

I didn't need to speak or understand the language to feel the emotion in their eyes as they grabbed my hand and like children clung to my leg and prayed with the desperate hope that this was all temporary; Afraid they might be away from their homes forever, with an almost crippling sadness that this keeps happening.

But I was also struck by the generosity of the people of Warsaw -- the entire Polish population, by the way -- by their deep compassion, their willingness to reach out -- (Applause) -- and to open their hearts.

I told the mayor that they are preparing to open their hearts and their homes just to help. I also want to thank my friend, the great American chef José Andrés, and his team for helping anyone who feels [sic]-(Applause)-who is nourished, who yearns to be free.

But helping these refugees is not something Poland or any other nation should do alone. All democracies in the world have a responsibility to help. All of them. And the people of Ukraine can count on the United States to fulfill its responsibilities.

I announced two days ago that we will take in 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. We already have 8,000 people of other nationalities coming to the United States every week.

We will provide nearly $300 million in humanitarian assistance and provide tens of thousands of tons of food, water, medicine and other basic supplies.

In Brussels, I announced that the United States is ready to provide more than $1 billion in humanitarian aid.

The World Food Program told us that, despite significant obstacles, at least some aid is reaching the main cities of Ukraine, but not in Metropol [sic] - no, sorry, Mar- - not in Mariupol because Russian forces are blocking the sending of help.

But we will not give up in our efforts to provide humanitarian aid wherever it is needed in Ukraine and to people who have managed to leave Ukraine.

Despite Vladimir Putin's brutality, there should be no doubt that this war was already a strategic failure for Russia. (Applause.) I've lost children myself -- I know that's not much comfort to people who have lost families.

But he, Putin, thought that the Ukrainians would turn away and not fight. Not much for a history student. Instead, Russian forces faced courageous and strong Ukrainian resistance.

Instead of breaking Ukraine's resolve, Russia's brutal tactics strengthened the resolve. (Applause.)

Rather than disbanding NATO, the West is now stronger and more united than ever. (Applause.)

Russia wanted less NATO presence on its border, but now it wants

[we have] a stronger presence, a bigger presence, with over a hundred thousand American troops here, along with every other member of NATO.

Indeed -- (Applause) -- Russia has accomplished something it certainly never intended: the world's democracies are being revitalized with purpose and unity found in months that previously took years to happen.

Russia's actions in Ukraine are not the only reminders of the blessings of democracy. It's our own country - your own country, the Kremlin, imprisons protesters. It is said that 200,000 people have already left. There is a brain drain - to leave Russia. Turn off independent messages. State media is all propaganda blocking pictures of civilian targets, mass graves and starvation tactics by Russian forces in Ukraine.

Is it any wonder, as I said, that 200,000 Russians left their country in one month? A remarkable brain drain in such a short time, which brings me to my message to the Russian people:

I have been working with Russian guides for decades. I sat down at the negotiating table and went back to Soviet Prime Minister Alexei Kosygin to talk about arms control at the height of the Cold War.

I have always spoken directly and honestly with you Russian people.

Let me say this, if you can hear it: you Russian people are not our enemy.

I refuse to believe that you welcome the death of innocent children and grandparents or that you accept hospitals, schools and maternity wards being bombed with Russian missiles and bombs, for God's sake; or cities will be surrounded to prevent civilians from escaping; He cut off supplies and tried to starve the Ukrainians.

Millions of families are being displaced from their homes, including half of Ukraine's children. These are not the actions of a great nation.

You of all people, Russian people, as well as all people across Europe, still have the memory of a similar situation in the late 1930s and 1940s - the situation of World War II - still fresh in the minds of many grandparents in the region .

Whatever it is - whatever your generation experienced - whether they witnessed the Siege of Leningrad or heard about it from their parents and grandparents - train stations packed with frightened families fleeing their homes; overnight stays in cellars and cellars; Sitting in the rubble of their homes in the morning - these are not memories of the past. No more. Because that's exactly what the Russian army is doing in Ukraine right now.

March 26, 2022. Just a few days ago - it's the 21st - you were a 21st century nation with hopes and dreams that people around the world have for themselves and their families.

Now Vladimir Putin's aggression has separated you, the Russian people, from the rest of the world and has taken Russia back to the 19th century.

You are not. This is not the future reserve - you deserve it for your families and your children. I tell you the truth: this war is not worthy of you Russian people.

Putin can and must end this war. The American people are behind you and the brave citizens of Ukraine who want peace.

And my message to the rest of Europe: this new struggle for freedom has already made a number of things clear.

First, Europe must end its dependence on Russian fossil fuels. And we, the United States, will help. (Applause.) That's why, just yesterday in Brussels, I announced a plan with the President of the European Commission to help Europe overcome its immediate energy crisis.

In the long term, we all need to transition to clean, renewable energy as quickly as possible for reasons of economic and national security and the viability of the planet. And we will work together to help make that happen, so that the days of a nation at the mercy of a tyrant for its energy needs are over. You must finish. You must finish.

And secondly, we must fight Kremlin corruption to give the Russian people a fair chance.

And finally, and above all, we must maintain absolute unity among the world's democracies - we must do this.

It is not enough to speak with rhetorical flourishes about ennobling words of democracy, about freedom, equality and freedom. All of us, including here in Poland, have to do the hard work of democracy every day. my country too.

That's why -- (Applause) -- that's why I came to Europe again this week with a clear and resolute message to NATO, to the G7, to the European Union, to all freedom-loving nations: we must commit to this fight now for the long haul. We must stand united today and tomorrow and the day after tomorrow and for years and decades to come. (Applause.)

It will not be easy. There are costs. But it's a price we have to pay. For the darkness that fuels autocracy is no match for the flame of freedom that lights the souls of free people everywhere.

History has repeatedly shown that the greatest breakthroughs follow the darkest moments. And history shows that this is the task of our time, the task of this generation.

Let us remember: the hammer blow that brought down the Berlin Wall, the force that lifted the Iron Curtain, were not the words of a single leader; it was the peoples of Europe who fought for their liberation for decades.

Their sheer bravery opened the border between Austria and Hungary to the pan-European picnic. They joined forces for the Baltic Way. They stood for solidarity here in Poland. And together they were an unmistakable, undeniable people's force that the Soviet Union could not resist.

And we see it again today with the brave people of Ukraine showing that the power of the many is greater than the will of a single dictator. (Applause.)

So in this hour, let the words of Pope John Paul shine as brightly as they do today: “Never give up hope, never doubt, never grow weary, never lose heart. Don't be afraid." (Applause).

A dictator bent on rebuilding an empire will never extinguish a people's love of freedom. Brutality will never crush your will to be free. Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia - because free people refuse to live in a world of hopelessness and darkness.

We will have a different future - a better future rooted in democracy and principle, hope and light, decency and dignity, freedom and opportunity.

For God's sake, this man cannot stay in power.

God bless you all. And may God defend our freedom. (Applause) And may God protect our troops. Thanks for your patience. Thank you very much. (applause) Thank you. Thank you very much.

18:43 CET