“This is what peace looks like. And it doesn't mean that they are part of NATO," the US president said.While Biden has rallied allies to support Ukraine militarily and economically, he acknowledged that last year's Ukrainian counteroffensive failed, and Russia has recently made gains.
"It's not a decisive stance," a senior Ukrainian official told TIME. "It's not the way to victory."However, Biden said, "If we ever let Ukraine go down, mark my words, you'll see Poland go, and you'll see all those nations along the actual border of Russia [fall]." According to the report, he believes deterring Russia is part of a broader strategy to strengthen alliances and maintain American global leadership. Despite the ongoing war, Biden touted his success in adding Finland and Sweden to NATO, stating: "Everybody thought, including you guys, thought I was crazy. Guess what? I did it." Read also:
- Biden missing Peace Summit in Switzerland would be “applauded” by Putin, says Zelenskyy
- Scholz to Putin: We are prepared to defend ‘every square inch’ of NATO territory
- Stoltenberg: NATO’s weapons policy change bolsters Ukraine’s Kharkiv defense
- NATO aims to prevent Hungary from blocking new scheme to fund Ukrainian army
