(ANSA-AFP) - WASHINGTON, MAR 12 - US President Joe Biden
hosts Poland's President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald
Tusk at the White House Tuesday to try to reassure key NATO ally
Warsaw of Washington's support after Russia's invasion of
Ukraine. Duda urged NATO allies before the visit to up their
spending in response to growing fears about Moscow's aggression,
and will reportedly ask Biden to send more US troops to the
alliance's eastern flank with Russia. Alarm is growing among US
allies as Congress blocks aid for Ukraine, and after Biden's
election rival Donald Trump threatened to cut funding for Kyiv
if elected while encouraging Russia to invade NATO countries
that fail to pay their dues. Biden's unusual joint meeting with
both hard-right Duda and pro-EU Tusk also underscores US
concerns that deep-seated tensions between the Polish leaders
could harm the Western alliance. Biden has made support for
Ukraine a key plank of his foreign policy but played down a
report that Warsaw would seek an increase in the number of US
forces stationed in eastern Europe to guard against Russia.
"There's no need for more troops at the Polish border. But I'm
meeting with the Polish leaders tomorrow," Biden told reporters
on the eve of the talks. (ANSA-AFP).
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
