John Kirby, the US National Security Council's Coordinator for Strategic Communications, told the media on Monday that "Poland has been a strident ally, a tremendous supporter of Ukraine, and a generous host not only to American troops, but millions of Ukrainian refugees who have fled there in safety."
Kirby was responding to a question from Polish Radio’s Washington correspondent Marek Wałkuski, who asked him why Biden has "specifically chosen Poland for this trip since so many countries are helping Ukraine and he visited Poland 11 months ago?"
Kirby said: "The Poles are — pardon the pun — but they’re punching well above their weight. And we very much appreciate all the support."
He added: "The President wants to thank President Duda in person. He wants to thank the Polish people in person. He wants to make broader points about how it’s important for the kind of courage and unity we’re seeing out of Poland and so many NATO Allies continues, sadly, into what will now be a second year of war."
The White House announced last week that Biden would visit Poland from February 20 to 22 to meet with the Polish president, attend a meeting of NATO’s eastern-flank countries and deliver a speech ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Tuesday is day 356 of Russia’s war against its southern neighbour.
(gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, whitehouse.gov