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Biden to meet Poland’s leaders on Nato funding against Russia

  • The meeting comes as Biden presses to overcome Republican hardliners in Congress who are stalling US$95 billion for Ukraine weaponry and aid to Israel
  • Polish President Andrzej Duda set the stage for talks by calling for each Nato ally to increase defence spending from 2 per cent to 3 per cent of GDP

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Poland’s President Andrzej Duda shakes hands with US President Joe Biden next to Slovakia’s President Zuzana Caputova, on the day of the Nato Bucharest Nine summit in February 2023. Photo: Reuters
Reuters
US President Joe Biden on Tuesday will meet Poland’s president and prime minister to show solidarity for Ukraine in its battle against Russian invaders and discuss ways to increase funding for Nato against the ongoing threat from Moscow.
The White House meeting between Biden and Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk comes as Biden presses to overcome Republican hardliners in Congress who are stalling US$95 billion for Ukraine weaponry and aid to Israel.

“The leaders will reaffirm their unwavering support for Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s brutal war of conquest,” the White House said, noting the three leaders will coordinate ahead of the annual Nato summit, to be held July 9 to 11 in Washington.

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Speaking before the talks, Polish Foreign Minister Radislaw Sikorski urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to allow a vote on the Ukraine funds, but toned down an earlier plea in which he said Johnson would be blamed if the bill failed and Russian troops advanced.

Polish President Andrzej Duda (left) and Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz before the start of a Nato exercise in Korzeniewo, north Poland. Duda is calling for each Nato ally to increase defence spending from 2 per cent to 3 per cent of GDP. Photo: EPA-EFE
Polish President Andrzej Duda (left) and Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz before the start of a Nato exercise in Korzeniewo, north Poland. Duda is calling for each Nato ally to increase defence spending from 2 per cent to 3 per cent of GDP. Photo: EPA-EFE

“If the American package doesn’t arrive … Ukraine might be in difficulty, and that might eventually mean the need for more American troops in Europe,” he told reporters at a Monitor breakfast.

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