War in Ukraine: what to expect from the speeches of Putin and Biden?

Two presidents, two speeches. Vladimir Putin delivers a speech on the state of the Russian nation on Tuesday at 10:00 French time. On the 363rd day of the war, he launched a war in Ukraine and the day after Joe Biden’s unexpected visit to Kyiv to reiterate his “unwavering” support for Ukrainian democracy.

Hours before Biden’s departure for Kiev, the United States notified Russia of Biden’s visit to the Ukrainian capital to “settle conflicts,” Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan said. Nevertheless: Putin will not fail to strike at Washington and its policy of expansion.

Announced within a few days, this speech before the two houses of parliament and in the presence of army commanders and soldiers is designed to inform the country about the progress, from the Kremlin’s point of view, of a “special military operation.” in Ukraine. It also lays out the goals of the second year of the war, when fighting bogged down on a 1,500-kilometer active front in eastern Ukraine, despite some deadly disputed hotspots such as the devastated town of Bakhmut.

His point of view on the international position

Speaking on state television, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “at such a crucial and difficult moment in our development, in our lives, everyone is waiting for a message in the hope of finding out what is happening, getting an assessment of a special military operation.”

The Russian presidency indicated that Vladimir Putin would also express his views on the international situation and on Russia’s development in the face of extensive sanctions imposed by the West.

Although Vladimir Putin has delivered several solemn speeches, in recent months he has reiterated his belief that “Great Russia” cannot be itself because of the West, which “seeks to strike us, destroy us, undermine our state, enrage our peoples” . he said on September 30. On that day, the Russian president formalized the annexation of four Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye, and Kherson—in which “referendums” were organized within days, condemned by the entire international community, and the results of which were signed “unconditionally.” “accession to the Russian Federation.

“You will hear how he addresses messages to Mr. Putin”

Biden is also scheduled to give a speech from the Royal Castle in Warsaw on Tuesday afternoon. He “will signal that the United States will continue to support Ukraine (…) for as long as it takes,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, who spoke to reporters last night last week. The US president is expected to pay tribute to how the United States helped rally the world in support of Ukraine in the early hours of the Russian offensive.

He is due to meet with President Andrzej Duda and other Polish leaders in Warsaw, who are among Ukraine’s main supporters in Europe. As well as the leaders of the group of “nine from Bucharest” from the former communist bloc that joined NATO, namely Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia.

He is also due to speak by phone with the leaders of Britain, France and Italy, the White House said. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is expected in Washington on March 3.

“You will hear messages from the President’s speech that will certainly resonate with the American people,” as well as “our allies and partners (…) and the Polish people,” Mr. Kirby said of Joe’s speech. Biden. in Warsaw. “And I suspect you will hear him address Mr Putin and also the Russian people,” he added.