(CNSNews.com) - President Biden said Tuesday that contrary to what Russian President Vladimir Putin says, “the West was not plotting to attack Russia,” and they do not seek to control or destroy Russia.
“So tonight, I speak once more to the people of Russia. The United States and the nations of Europe do not seek to control or destroy Russia. The west was not plotting to attack Russia as Putin said today. Millions of Russian citizens who only want to live in peace with their neighbors are not the enemy,” Biden said during a speech in Warsaw, Poland, marking one-year since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
“This war was never a necessity. It is a tragedy. President Putin chose this war. Every day the war continues is his choice. He could end the war with a word. It's simple. If Russia stopped invading Ukraine, it would end the war,” he said.
“If Ukraine stopped defending itself against Russia it would be the end of Ukraine. That's why together we are making sure Ukraine can defend itself,” the president said.
“The United States has assembled a worldwide coalition of more than 50 nations to get critical weapons and supplies to the brave Ukrainian fighters on the front lines: air defense systems, artillery, ammunition, tanks, armored vehicles,” Biden said.
“The European Union and its member states have stepped up with unprecedented commitments to Ukraine - not just security assistance but economic and humanitarian and refugee assistance and so much more,” he said.
Biden said autocrats like Putin only understand one word - no.
“Autocrats only understand one word, no, no, no. No, you will not take my country. You will not take my freedom. No, you will not take my future. I'll repeat tonight what I said last year in this same place,” he said.
A dictator bent on rebuilding an empire will never be able to ease the people's love of liberty. Brutality will never grind down the will of the free and Ukraine -- Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia, never, for free people refused to live in a world of hopelessness and darkness,” the president said.
Biden said that the past year has been a year of “extraordinary brutality from Russian forces and mercenaries.”
“They have committed depravities, Crimes against humanity without shame or compunction. They’ve targeted civilians with death and destruction, used rape as a weapon of war, stolen Ukrainian children in an attempt to steal Ukraine's future, bombed train stations, maternity hospitals, schools and orphanages,” he said.
“No one, no one can turn away their eyes from the atrocities Russia is committing against the Ukrainian people. It is abhorrent. It is abhorrent, but extraordinarily as well has been the response of the Ukrainian people and the world,” the president said. “One year after the bombs began to fall, Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine. Ukraine is still independent and free.”