President Biden addressed the group of European nations known as the Bucharest Nine (B9) on Wednesday, stressing the need to stand up to Russian aggression and emphasizing the United States' commitment to NATO allies.
Biden's appearance at the B9 meeting in Warsaw came as part of a European tour that saw the president stop in Ukraine and meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before heading to Poland. The trip is taking place nearly one year to the day after Russia invaded Ukraine, kicking off a war that continues to rage on.
"As NATOs eastern flank, youre our front lines of our collective defense, and you know better than anyone whats at stake in this conflict," Biden said to officials from the B9 countries of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.
While pointing out the other nations' role in fending off a Russian threat, Biden made it perfectly clear that the U.S. will be there with them if any NATO member is attacked.
"The commitment of the United States to NATO Ive said it to you many times, and Ill say it again, is absolutely clear. Article 5 is a sacred commitment the United States has made," Biden said. "We will defend literally every inch of NATO. Every inch of NATO."
Article 5 of the NATO treaty says that "an armed attack against one or more" member countries "shall be considered an attack against them all," and that each member "will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area."
Biden said that with Russia continuing its offensive, "what literally is at stake is not just Ukraine, it's freedom."
As Biden spoke in Poland, Putin announced that Russia was suspending its participation in the last remaining U.S.-Russia nuclear arms control treaty. Biden called that departure a big mistake. The exit is expected to have an immediate impact on U.S. awareness of Russian nuclear activities. However, the pact known as New START was already on life support following Moscows cancellation late last year of talks that had been intended to salvage an agreement that each side has accused the other of violating.