President Biden pledged Wednesday that the US would “defend actually each inch of NATO” within the case of a Russian assault on NATO territory. Biden wrapped up a three-day diplomatic journey after assembly in Poland with leaders of the alliance’s easternmost nations, that are significantly involved about Moscow’s aggression. The gathering follows Biden’s unannounced go to to Kyiv on Monday and comes a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced the suspension of Russia’s participation in its final remaining nuclear pact with the US as the 2 leaders underscored their rising division in dueling speeches.
In Moscow, China’s prime diplomat, Wang Yi, met with Putin, as the primary anniversary of the beginning of Russia’s conflict in Ukraine approaches. Wang hailed relations between the 2 nations on Wednesday, saying they remained sturdy and would “not be overpowered” by “coercion or strain” from different events. China has mentioned it’s impartial within the Russia-Ukraine conflict however has additionally frequently given diplomatic assist to Russia. U.S. and NATO officers have expressed concern that China may begin offering different assist, together with weapons, for Russia’s conflict in Ukraine.
Putin appeared at a stadium in Moscow on Wednesday for a rally and live performance titled “Glory to Defenders of the Motherland,” the place he honored Russian troopers earlier than a crowd of tens of hundreds, waving Russian flags and singing alongside to patriotic songs.
Right here’s the newest on the conflict and its influence across the globe.
A 12 months within the trenches has hardened Ukraine’s president: Zelensky got here into workplace considering that he may obtain peace with Putin, however a 12 months in the past this week, he discovered himself hiding in a secure room in Kyiv at first of experiences which have reworked him right into a globally recognized, hard-bitten wartime chief, Paul Sonne and David L. Stern report.
“After all, all of us have modified, together with the president,” mentioned Andriy Yermak, the pinnacle of the Ukrainian presidential workplace. “The ordeals which have marked his tenure — they’ll’t however change an individual. Has he turn into more durable? After all, he has. Has he turn into stronger? From my standpoint, he was all the time sturdy.”
Christian Shepherd, Robyn Dixon and Natalia Abbakumova contributed to this report