Biden meets eastern NATO allies after Putin's nuclear warning
The Hindu
Biden to reaffirm U.S. commitment to European security
U.S. President Joe Biden met leaders of NATO's eastern flank on Wednesday to show support for their security after Moscow suspended a landmark nuclear arms control treaty over strong Western support for Ukraine.
Mr. Biden arrived in the Polish capital Warsaw late on Monday after a surprise visit to Kyiv just days ahead of the anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.
Amid the highest tension between Russia and the West since the Cold War over three decades ago, Mr. Biden addressed thousands in downtown Warsaw on Tuesday and said "autocrats" like Russian President Vladimir Putin must be opposed.
Hours earlier, Mr. Putin delivered lengthy remarks laden with criticism of Western powers, blaming them for the war in Ukraine. Mr. Biden said the West was never plotting to attack Russia and the invasion was Mr. Putin's choice.
Mr. Putin also backed away from the arms control treaty - a 2010 agreement that limits the number of Russian and U.S. deployed strategic nuclear warheads - and warned that Moscow could resume nuclear tests.
"He made a big mistake," Mr. Biden said of Mr. Putin's decision when asked about it as he headed into the meeting with eastern European allies.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr. Biden met staff from the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw before gathering leaders of the Bucharest Nine, the countries on NATO's eastern flank such as Poland, Bulgaria and Lithuania that joined the Western military alliance after being dominated by Moscow during the Cold War.