Less than 48 hours after paying an unexpected visit to the Ukrainian capital, President Joe Biden vowed "unwavering" support for the defense of Ukraine and Nato's ea

Less than 48 hours after paying an unexpected visit to the Ukrainian capital, President Joe Biden vowed "unwavering" support for the defense of Ukraine and Nato's eastern flank while praising the steely resolve of Kyiv's defenders.

Speaking from the Royal Palace in Warsaw, Poland, Mr. Biden said that a year ago, due to an impending Russian invasion, the world was "bracing" for Ukraine to fall.

The thousand-person crowd, which included numerous Polish officials, including President Andrzej Duda and several of his predecessors, applauded as he declared, "I can report: Kyiv stands strong, Kyiv stands proud, it stands tall and, most importantly, it stands free."

The decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin to send his forces across the border almost a year ago, according to Mr. Biden, was a "test" of not only Ukraine but also of other democracies across the world and the Nato alliance.

"The decisions we must make are as straightforward as they are important: Would we act or would we choose to ignore? Will it be powerful? How weak would you be? If our allies were divided or united, which would they be? One year later, we are aware of the solution: "We did react, we would be powerful and united, and the world would not turn a blind eye," he added.

The American president also noted that Mr. Putin had thought the west would “roll over” while his tanks rolled easily into Kyiv.

“He was wrong,” he said. “The Ukrainian people are too brave. America, Europe, a coalition of nations from the Atlantic to the Pacific, we were too unified. Democracy was too strong”.

As opposed to that, Mr. Biden claimed that the Russian leader faced "burned-out tanks" and forces that were "in disarray," as well as a Nato alliance that is becoming more cohesive and powerful with the impending entry of two long-time neutral nations, Sweden and Finland.

"He believed he would receive the NATO Finlandization. Instead, he received the NATOization of Sweden and Finland. He anticipated that NATO would disintegrate and split, but Mr. Biden noted that the alliance was stronger and more cohesive than ever.

In his speech from the same castle grounds 11 months earlier, he brought up a theme that he had briefly mentioned. He said that Mr. Putin had been mistaken in thinking that leaders of democratic governments around the world were "soft" in comparison to "tough" autocrats like himself. He also brought up the war between autocracies and forces of western democracies.

Instead, he claimed that Mr. Putin had "met the iron will of America and nations elsewhere that refuse to accept a world dominated by fear and power."

A year ago, President Putin didn't believe it was feasible to face the situation he is facing today. The world's democracies have strengthened, not weakened; yet, the world's autocrats have become less powerful, not more powerful, he claimed.

In addition, the president claimed that, at the one-year mark of the conflict, Mr. Putin "no longer questions" the power of the western coalition. He cautioned, though, that the Russian president "still doubts our conviction" and "doubts our staying power."

Mr. Putin, he said, will be wrong to do so.

"He questions whether we will still back to Ukraine. He questions whether NATO can continue to be together. The president added that Mr. Putin's "craven lust for land and power will fail" while Ukrainians' "love for their country will prevail" as the world's democracies "stand guard over freedom today, tomorrow, and forever." He added that there should be no doubt about the fact that we will continue to support Ukraine, NATO won't split, and we won't grow weary.

In a speech to the Russian parliament, the Russian tyrant repeated his oft-repeated—and false—claim that the West triggered his invasion of Ukraine, only hours before the American leader's remarks. "This conflict was never necessary. It is tragic. Every day that the war rages on is a choice made by President Putin. He said, "He could speak and put an end to the war.

"It's straightforward: If Russia quit occupying Ukraine, the war would end. The end of Ukraine would come if it ceased defending itself against Russia. We are ensuring that Ukraine can defend itself as a result.

Little under a day prior, the US president announced another $450 billion in American defense support for Ukraine, including artillery ammunition, Javelin anti-tank missiles, and air defense radar equipment.

His first unexpected visit since the start of the war last year was carried out in complete secrecy. Only two American journalists, a reporter, and a photographer were allowed to travel with him on his flight from Washington to Poland, followed by a train to Kyiv. The Ukrainian capital, according to Vice President Biden, "has captured a part of [his] heart," as he declared in a Monday speech alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Additionally, he bemoaned that the sacrifices made by the Ukrainian people have "been far too severe" and that the "expense" Ukraine has been made to endure in order to stave against Russia's invading forces "has been unusually expensive."

Mr. Putin, he said “thought he could outlast us”.

“I don't think he's thinking that right now. God knows what he's thinking, but I don't think he's thinking that. But he's just been plain wrong. Plain wrong,” he said.

‘Putin was wrong’: Biden hails unity of West and Ukrainians’ resolve in Warsaw address

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