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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
(35 minutes later)
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.” WARSAW — Vice President Biden sought in a visit to the Polish capital Tuesday to reassure allies anxious over Russia’s takeover of Crimea, denouncing Moscow moves to annex the region as a “blatant, blatant disregard of international law.”
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. 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.
Tusk, however, expressed the more intimate concern of a leader with a new, unpredictable conflict suddenly on his doorstep, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intervention in Ukraine “increases the risk in Eastern Europe but it also has global implications.” Tusk, however, expressed the more intimate concern of a leader with a new, unpredictable conflict suddenly on his doorstep, saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intervention in Ukraine “increases the risk in Eastern Europe, but it also has global implications.”
“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.”“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.”
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 connections to Russia.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 connections 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. 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. As Putin told Russia’s political leadership in Moscow that Crimea would again be part of Russia, Biden outlined the next steps 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.” 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, including those Biden met here, have condemned the takeover of Crimea as a violation of international law.
During his visit, which included a meeting with visiting Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Biden called Putin’s intervention in Ukraine a “brazen, brazen military incursion.” He told each leader that the Obama administration is committed to Article 5 of the NATO pact, calling for collective self-defense if one nation is attacked.
“If the international community does not stand up, then the international community will collapse,” Ilves said. “The kind of behavior we see is dangerous for the world.”
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.”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. Ilves urged European leaders to come up with a stronger response to Russia’s intervention.
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.” “The response should not be about the price of gas,” he said. “It should be about common values, and the price of not adhering to those values.”
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. The senior administration official, traveling with the vice president, said Biden would emphasize that whatever steps follow the sanctions announced by the United States and European Union must be taken “so that NATO emerges from this crisis stronger than when it went into it.”
Obama has sought to reenergize 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. Russia’s recognition of an independent Crimea, and Putin’s apparent step toward Russian annexation of the Black Sea peninsula, have proven to be a test of the Obama administration’s preference for economic sanctions and international diplomatic pressure over military threats.
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. Obama has sought to reenergize 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 in 2011. 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, in their view, has 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 — in Afghanistan — at the end of this year, has made clear that 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 that 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.Obama has moved U.S. Navy ships closer to the Black Sea, where Russia maintains its only warm-water port.
Biden emphasized Tuesday that the United States has deployed 12 F-16 fighter jets to Poland in recent 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. Biden emphasized Tuesday that the United States has deployed 12 F-16 fighter jets to Poland in recent 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. But Biden did not offer changes to administration plans for a missile-defense system in Eastern Europe, which Obama adjusted upon 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.
“That is our commitment — an operational missile defense system by 2018 here in Poland,” Biden said. “That is our commitment — an operational missile-defense system by 2018 here in Poland,” Biden said.
The fear of Russia’s military ambitions shadowed Biden’s meetings.
Appearing with Biden in the presidential palace, Polish President Branislaw Komorowski called Putin’s move into Crimea inevitable given that Russia has increased military spending 400 percent over the past eight years. He said some NATO members had cut defense spending over that time.
Biden responded by telling Komorowski, “You have an ally whose budget is larger than the next 10 nations in the world combined.”
“So don’t worry about where we are,” he said. “The United States has more than stood up to its responsibilities.”