President Biden is ‘to visit Poland this month’ to mark one year since Putin’s Russia invaded Ukraine

• President Joe Biden is expected to visit Poland towards the end of February to commemorate the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
• Trip has not been confirmed until an official announcement is made by the White House, and the plans could still change
• Trip aims to draw attention to Ukraine’s perseverance against Russia’s military campaign and to demonstrate the US’ continued support for Ukraine

President Joe Biden is said to be planning a trip to Poland later this month to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

The current thinking is for the trip to take place towards the end of February although no official announcement has yet been made by the White House. 

The National Security Council has so far declined to comment on the matter and it is also unclear if there will be any additional European stops made during the trip.

The war began on February 24, 2022 with Biden said to be looking into the  possibility of visiting Europe, including Poland, to commemorate the outbreak.

The White House is said to be wanting to look for ways to highlight Ukraine’s resilience in the face of Russia’s military campaign while demonstrating continued support by the United States for the Ukrainian people as the conflict enters its second year.

Biden’s trip has not been confirmed until an official announcement is made by the White House, and the plans could still change

President Joe Biden is expected to visit Poland towards the end of February to commemorate the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Pictured, a destroyed Russian tank with artwork it done by Italian urban artist Tvboy, seen on Monday

It would also allow Biden to strengthen ties and reinforce the unity of the US-European alliance. 

The Biden administration recently committed more than $29.3 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, including the provision of 31 Abrams tanks, according to the Department of Defense.

The Polish president’s foreign policy adviser seemed certain that a trip was in the office.

‘We already know for sure that President Joe Biden will respond positively to President Duda’s invitation and will come to Poland,’ Marcin Przydacz said on Saturday.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomes Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak before a meeting, as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine last Friday

The wreckage of a car and debris near a damaged residential building following a missile strike, in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, on Saturday, amid Russia’s invasion of the country. At least four people were injured after two Russian missiles hit downtown Kharkiv

‘We have agreed with the American side that we will announce the date of this visit in due course, but I can assure that it will be sooner rather than later,’ he added.

Przydacz said that preparations are underway for the visit which ‘meets the expectations of both the White House and the expectations of the Polish side’.

‘But for us it will be very important and crucial to continue supporting Poland’s security,’ he added.

President Biden said last week that would visit Poland but did not know when exactly.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council, seen last Friday 

Ukrainian artillery teams fire toward Russian positions in Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine. Artillery continues to play a significant role in the war against Russian forces in the Donbas region

The potential visit comes as Ukraine’s armed forces are bracing for an imminent all-out assault by renewed Russian forces, officials have claimed, as Putin and his commanders seek to make gains before Western tanks can reach Kyiv.

Ukraine’s outgoing defence minister Oleksiy Reznikov yesterday said he was expecting Russia to launch a fresh attack on the partially occupied south and eastern regions on or around the anniversary of the war on February 24.

This offensive could even come by February 15, an adviser to the Ukrainian military told the Financial Times.

Meanwhile, tanks pledged by the West are on their way to Ukraine, with some having already arrived in Poland, but it will be weeks before they are ready to be deployed to the front. 

More than 130,000 Russian troops have now been killed since the invasion began, Kyiv claims.

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