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Biden in Europe to ‘reassure our allies’ over Russia’s moves in Ukraine Biden in Europe to ‘reassure our allies’ over Russia’s moves in Ukraine
(about 3 hours later)
WARSAW—Vice President Biden arrived here Tuesday to reassure a set of allies anxious over Russia’s move into Crimea, a visit he will use to pledge additional security assistance and American help in diversifying Eastern European energy supplies heavily dependent now on Russian natural gas. WARSAW—Vice President Biden arrived here Tuesday to reassure a set of allies anxious over Russia’s move into Crimea, denouncing the impending Russian annexation of the region as a “blatant, blatant disregard of international law.”
Over two days, Biden will meet with the leaders of Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, all NATO members with old memories of Soviet domination and new fears of a resurgent Russia under President Vladimir Putin. Appearing with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Biden offered the moral support of a “steadfast ally,” but promised only modest assistance to help Poland modernize its army and explore how to lessen its dependence on Russian natural gas.
A day after Putin declared Crimea independent , Biden will outline the next steps that the United States intends to take to reverse the Russian move into Crimea and prevent a broader military push into eastern Ukraine, an escalation that would bring the conflict to the doorstep of Poland and the Baltic states. Tusk, however, expressed the more intimate concern of a leader with a new, unpredictable conflict suddenly on his doorstep, saying Russian President Vlaimir Putin’s intervention in Ukraine “increases the risk in Eastern Europe but it also has global implications.”
Before addressing the Russian parliament, Putin on Tuesday approved draft legislation to annex Crimea, a step the Obama administration is seeking to head off. Putin’s actions follow a Sunday referendum in which Crimean voters — under the eye of Russian troops — chose to split from Ukraine and join Russia. The Obama administration and its European allies have condemned the takeover of Crimea as a violation of international law. “It is a challenge for the whole world,” Tusk said. “It is not just Poland, but all of Europe must speak in a strong voice.”
One senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the vice president’s plans, said his trip is “first and foremost to reassure our allies that we are deeply concerned about Russia’s action in Ukraine and what the deeper implications might be.” Tusk’s remarks captured the mounting worries sweeping through Eastern Europe as Putin resists international calls to withdraw from Crimea, a strategically important Black Sea peninsula with historic connection to Russia.
Over two days, Biden will meet with the leaders of Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, all NATO members with old memories of Soviet domination and new fears of an expansionist Russia under Putin.
As Putin told Russia’s political leadership in Moscow that Crimea would again be part of Russia, Biden outlined the next steps that the United States intends to take to prevent that move and head off a broader military push into eastern Ukraine, an escalation that would bring the conflict even closer to Poland and the Baltic states.
Putin’s actions follow a Sunday referendum in which Crimean voters — under the eye of Russian troops — chose to split from Ukraine and join Russia. The Obama administration and its European allies have condemned the takeover of Crimea as a violation of international law. Here on Tuesday, Biden called it a “brazen, brazen military incursion.”
One senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the vice president’s plans, said his trip is “first and foremost to reassure our allies who are deeply concerned about Russia’s action in Ukraine and what the deeper implications might be.”
The adviser said Biden will discuss measures that would be taken “in the days and weeks ahead,” building on financial sanctions imposed on 11 Russian and Ukrainian officials that President Obama announced Monday but that appeared to have little effect on Putin’s calculations.The adviser said Biden will discuss measures that would be taken “in the days and weeks ahead,” building on financial sanctions imposed on 11 Russian and Ukrainian officials that President Obama announced Monday but that appeared to have little effect on Putin’s calculations.
The talks here and on Wednesday in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, come days before European leaders meet in Brussels to consider Russia’s actions in Ukraine.The talks here and on Wednesday in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, come days before European leaders meet in Brussels to consider Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
The senior administration official, traveling with the vice president, said Biden would emphasize that whatever steps follow the sanctions the United States and European Union have already announced must be done “so that NATO emerges from this crisis stronger than when it went into it.” The senior administration official, traveling with the vice president, said Biden would emphasize that whatever steps follow the sanctions that the United States and European Union have already announced must be done “so that NATO emerges from this crisis stronger than when it went into it.”
Russia’s recognition of an independent Crimea, and Putin’s apparent step toward Russian annexation of the Black Sea peninsula, has proven to be a test of the Obama administration’s preference for economic sanctions and international diplomatic pressure over military threats.Russia’s recognition of an independent Crimea, and Putin’s apparent step toward Russian annexation of the Black Sea peninsula, has proven to be a test of the Obama administration’s preference for economic sanctions and international diplomatic pressure over military threats.
Obama has sought to re-energize NATO, placing the alliance at the center of efforts to wind down the Afghan war and act together in humanitarian emergencies such as in Libya. Poland and Lithuania convened an emergency meeting of NATO members earlier this month in response to Russia’s move on Crimea.Obama has sought to re-energize NATO, placing the alliance at the center of efforts to wind down the Afghan war and act together in humanitarian emergencies such as in Libya. Poland and Lithuania convened an emergency meeting of NATO members earlier this month in response to Russia’s move on Crimea.
But some allies, including in Europe, have watched with worry as Obama has in their view emphasized reaching out to antagonists at the expense of longtime friends. Administration officials strongly disagree, arguing that new relationships with such countries as Iran, China, and Russia benefit America’s allies in Europe and other regions.But some allies, including in Europe, have watched with worry as Obama has in their view emphasized reaching out to antagonists at the expense of longtime friends. Administration officials strongly disagree, arguing that new relationships with such countries as Iran, China, and Russia benefit America’s allies in Europe and other regions.
How Obama intends to confront Putin has been closely monitored here and throughout Eastern Europe, a region far more susceptible to Russian economic sanctions, energy disruptions, and military threats. So far Obama, who plans to end America’s longest war at the end of this year in Afghanistan, has made clear military options are not under consideration. How Obama intends to confront Putin has been closely monitored here and throughout Eastern Europe, a region far more susceptible to Russian economic sanctions, energy disruptions and military threats. So far Obama, who plans to end America’s longest war — in Afghanistan — at the end of this year, has made clear military options are not under consideration.
Obama has moved U.S. navy ships closer to the Black Sea, where Russia maintains its only warm water port, and he has deployed additional U.S. fighter jets to Estonia and Poland. The senior administration officials suggested Biden would have additional security measures to announce, including stepped-up military training through NATO, during his visit here. Obama has moved U.S. Navy ships closer to the Black Sea, where Russia maintains its only warm water port.
The official said Biden would not offer changes to administration plans for a missile defense system in Eastern Europe, which Obama adjusted on taking office at a time he was pursuing a “reset” in Russian relations. Biden emphasized Tuesday that the United States has deployed 12 F-16 fighter jets to Poland in reent weeks, and delivered another 10 F-15s to the Baltic states for air patrol programs. He announced additional U.S. military training for Poland’s army.
But the senior administration official said Biden would not offer changes to administration plans for a missile defense system in Eastern Europe, which Obama adjusted on taking office at a time he was pursuing a “reset” in Russian relations.
Russian officials argued that the missile-defense system threatened Russian security and undermined arms treaties. U.S. officials, however, say the system is designed to target long-range missiles fired from such nations as Iran.Russian officials argued that the missile-defense system threatened Russian security and undermined arms treaties. U.S. officials, however, say the system is designed to target long-range missiles fired from such nations as Iran.
Since Russia’s intervention in Ukraine, some Congressional Republicans have called on Obama to return to the previous missile defense plan, one negotiated by the George W. Bush administration. That plan would have located a radar station in the Czech Republic and stationed 10 ground-based interceptors in Poland.Since Russia’s intervention in Ukraine, some Congressional Republicans have called on Obama to return to the previous missile defense plan, one negotiated by the George W. Bush administration. That plan would have located a radar station in the Czech Republic and stationed 10 ground-based interceptors in Poland.
Obama chose instead to place interceptors on navy ships. Over the next four years, NATO intends to locate smaller ground-based interceptors in Romania and in Poland.Obama chose instead to place interceptors on navy ships. Over the next four years, NATO intends to locate smaller ground-based interceptors in Romania and in Poland.
The senior official said Biden would tell Eastern European leaders during his meetings that those missile-defense plans remain “on track” and would not be altered to respond to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.The senior official said Biden would tell Eastern European leaders during his meetings that those missile-defense plans remain “on track” and would not be altered to respond to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
“It has never been about Russia,” the official said of the missile defense system. “That is our commitment - an operational missile defense system by 2018 here in Poland,” Biden said.
Biden’s first meeting here is with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, followed by one with Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski.