Russian president Vladimir Putin’s "craven lust for land and power will fail," President Joe Biden said Tuesday during a speech assailing Moscow for its war in Ukraine.
"President Putin is confronted with something today he didn’t think was possible a year ago: The democracies of the world have grown stronger, not weaker. But the autocrats of the world have grown weaker, not stronger," Biden said in a speech from Warsaw, Poland, just a day after he made a surprise stop in Ukraine to meet with its president, Volodymyr Zelensky.
Biden warned Putin against further aggression and said the United States and its European allies will continue to provide lethal armaments to Ukraine as it fends off Russia’s invasion. Biden also said the United States will hit Moscow this week with a bevy of new sanctions for its crimes in Ukraine. The speech served as a warning shot to Putin that Western nations are more committed than ever to Ukraine’s defense.
"One year into this war, Putin no longer doubts the strength of our coalitions," Biden said. "But he still doubts our conviction. He doubts our staying power. He doubts our continuing support for Ukraine. He doubts whether NATO can remain unified. But there should be no doubt: Our support for Ukraine will not waiver. NATO will not be divided. And we will not tire."
Following his stop in Ukraine, Biden said he "can report Kyiv stands strong. Kyiv stands proud. It stands tall. And most importantly it stands free."
Military support for Ukraine will continue, Biden said, including with the supply of air defense systems, artilleries, tanks ammunition, and armored vehicles, among other types of equipment.
The United States and its allies will also hold Putin and his inner circle responsible for the crimes being committed in Ukraine, which includes the rape of civilians and the targeted bombing of schools and children.
"We’ll hold accountable those responsible for this war and seek justice for the war crimes and crimes against humanity continuing to be committed by the Russians," Biden said.
Biden’s speech came on the same day Putin announced he is suspending Russia’s commitment to the New Start nuclear arms treaty, which put limits on each nations’ nuclear supply. Putin also said he is willing to restart nuclear weapons tests to ensure his country is ready for a war.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) said Putin’s decision should motivate the United States to modernize its own aging supply of nuclear arms.
"Russia’s actions underscore the urgent need for U.S. nuclear modernization to meet the threat of our adversaries’ growing stockpiles," Cotton said in a statement. "President Biden never should have extended this treaty, which handcuffed the United States while allowing Russia to cheat and China to expand its arsenal."