Biden and Putin give their opposite visions of the war in Ukraine on the eve of the first anniversary

Two leaders, two opposing views on the Ukraine conflict. On the eve of the anniversary of the war, this Friday, the Russian and American presidents, Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden, have delivered powerful speeches in Moscow and Warsaw: one nationalist, the other defiant.

Putin’s was also peppered with anti-Western rhetoric, no questioning about the legitimacy of his invasion and a refusal to accept blame for starting the conflict.

“The responsibility for fueling the Ukrainian conflict, for its escalation, for the number of casualties falls entirely on the Western elites and, of course, on the current Kiev regime, to whom the Ukrainian people are essentially strangers. The current Ukrainian regime does not is serving its national interests, but those of third countries,” Putin said.

Putin then announced that Russia is suspending its participation in the New Start nuclear treaty with the United States and may resume nuclear tests.

“Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia”

Later, in Poland, Biden rejected Putin’s vision. He vowed that Russia will “never” win the war in Ukraine, adding that support for kyiv from the United States and its allies “will not waver.”

“Autocrats only understand one word: ‘No’, ‘no’, ‘no’. No, you will not take my country. No, you will not take away my freedom. No, you will not take away my future. Brutality will never crush the will of the free. And Ukraine… Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia. Never,” Biden said.

Before returning to Washington, Biden will meet with the NATO leaders of the so-called Bucharest Nine, the countries on the eastern flank of the alliance that feel most threatened by Russia.

Source