From the Liveblog of
Monday, March 21, 2022
Biden talks Ukraine with European leaders ahead of NATO summit
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleUS President Joe Biden discussed Russia’s “brutal” war in Ukraine in a phone call with European allies Monday, ahead of attending NATO and EU summits, followed by a trip to Poland, the White House says.
Biden hosted the call, lasting just under one hour, with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, “to discuss their coordinated responses,” according to a White House statement.
“The leaders discussed their serious concerns about Russia’s brutal tactics in Ukraine, including its attacks on civilians,” the statement said.
“They underscored their continued support for Ukraine, including by providing security assistance to the brave Ukrainians who are defending their country from Russian aggression, and humanitarian assistance to the millions of Ukrainians who have fled,” it said.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki says Biden’s diplomatic emphasis has been on “unity” and on his trip “what the president is hoping to achieve is continued coordination.”
One thing Biden will not be doing this week, the White House says, is making a risky, but hugely symbolic trip to Kyiv.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, along with the Czech and Slovenian prime ministers, traveled to the embattled capital last week. But “there are no plans to travel into Ukraine,” Psaki says.
The Times of Israel Community.