Biden to travel to Poland to mark first anniversary of Ukraine invasion

US President Joe Biden will travel to Poland on February 20-22 to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the White House said on February 10.

John Kirby, the spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, said that Biden will make clear that additional security assistance and aid will be coming from the United States.

“The President will make it very clear that the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes,” Kirby said, according to Euractiv.

Biden’s aides have been planning for weeks how they will mark the anniversary of the invasion, including potentially a major address. The aides are hoping to emphasize the resilience of the Ukrainian people along with continued unity among allies in the uncertain months ahead.

Biden will meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Eastern European allies and speak about Ukraine, the White House said. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

International Monetary Fund staff will meet with Ukrainian officials in Warsaw next week, a source familiar with the plans said on Friday, as Ukraine presses for a multi-billion dollar borrowing program to cover its funding needs given Russia’s war.

Global ratings agency Moody’s on February 10 downgraded Ukraine’s sovereign rating to Ca as it expects the war with Russia to create long-lasting challenges for the country. Moody’s website said the rating means debt obligations are “likely in, or very near, default.”