Kamala Harris says US and Poland are united, regardless of fighter jets episode

However no less than when it comes to army help to Ukraine, Harris did not provide any commitments past what the US is already offering, together with Javelin and Stinger missiles.

The dust-up over offering fighter jets to Ukraine finally turned moot when the Pentagon flat-out rejected the thought of transferring them in any respect, citing logistical and strategic issues. However that was solely after the awkward episode of Poland’s provide to ship the jets to the US — who may then present them to Ukraine — left White Home officers stunned and, to some prolong, irritated.

Harris was tasked with smoothing over the matter. Poland’s provide was designed to keep away from the looks of Poland immediately arming Ukraine, and Duda mentioned alongside Harris he needed buy-in from different NATO members earlier than taking the step.

Nevertheless, the proposal created a conundrum for the US, which can also be intent on avoiding direct battle with Russia. The provide had additionally not been mentioned with the US earlier than Poland introduced it publicly.

Harris skirted immediately addressing the difficulty through the information convention and as an alternative underscored the army assist the US is already offering Ukraine wanting air energy.

“We’re making deliveries every single day when it comes to what we are able to do,” Harris mentioned.

Requested what extra Ukraine may count on, Harris mentioned, “That’s an ongoing course of and that isn’t going to cease to the extent there’s a want.”

Her major message, nevertheless, was not essentially to Ukrainians however to folks dwelling within the international locations simply to its west, who’re watching Russian President Vladimir Putin and questioning the place he might set his intentions subsequent. She mentioned so long as international locations have been in NATO, the US would take motion to defend them.

“The USA is ready to defend each inch of NATO territory. The USA takes critically that an assault in opposition to one is an assault in opposition to all,” Harris mentioned.

A troublesome diplomatic project

Alongside Duda, Harris mentioned her presence in Warsaw was a sign of American dedication to the alliance.

“I’m right here in Poland as an expression of the enduring and essential relationship, that, once more, has been longstanding, however particularly on the difficulty of Ukraine is unified and is obvious: we are going to do every thing collectively in partnership, in solidarity to assist what is important at this very second when it comes to the humanitarian and safety wants of Ukraine and the Ukrainian folks,” she mentioned.

Earlier than she introduced that the US was fulfilling requests to offer Poland with Patriot missiles, a spokesman for US European Command mentioned in an announcement Tuesday night time that the US was sending two new Patriot missile batteries to Poland as defensive weapons to counter any potential risk to US and NATO allies amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Patriots are air protection missile methods designed to counter and destroy incoming short-range ballistic missiles, superior plane and cruise missiles.

These missiles are heading to Poland, nevertheless; for Ukraine, Harris as an alternative emphasised the robust package deal of financial sanctions the West has imposed on Putin and sought to underscore the efforts to proceed holding Russia liable for its actions.

“What compels us is also the ethical outrage that each one civilized nations really feel once we take a look at what is going on: harmless males, girls, youngsters, grandmothers, grandfathers who’re fleeing every thing,” Harris mentioned.

She added that “atrocities of unimaginable proportions” have been underway in Ukraine. However, she stopped wanting calling Russia’s actions in Ukraine struggle crimes.

“We’re additionally very clear that any intentional assault on harmless civilians is a violation,” Harris mentioned, including, “The UN has arrange a course of by which there will probably be a evaluation and investigations, and we are going to after all take part as applicable and mandatory.”

She mentioned photographs from Ukraine clearly confirmed atrocities going down, even earlier than an investigation determines what to name them.

“I’ve no query the eyes of the world are on this struggle and what Russia has accomplished when it comes to this aggression and these atrocities,” she mentioned.

Duda was extra direct, calling struggle crimes “apparent” in Ukraine and saying refugees coming to his nation have proof of it on their telephones.

Earlier than they sat down for talks, Harris greeted Duda on the entrance to the Belvedere Palace, shaking palms underneath a sunny blue sky.

Harris met first with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on the chancellery constructing, laying out her major focus for the go to: reaffirming American dedication to jap flank NATO allies.

“I want it have been underneath different circumstances,” she mentioned of her go to.

Rejected fighter jet proposal palms over assembly

The timing of the back-and-forth over the Polish fighter jet proposal inevitably meant it will be one of many main flashpoints of Harris’ diplomatic mission, although it was scheduled days earlier than the dust-up unfolded.

White Home press secretary Jen Psaki on Wednesday described the state of affairs as a “short-term breakdown in communication.” She mentioned the jets subject is not going to be the main focus of Harris’ assembly with Duda, however the vice chairman is predicted to assist patch issues up.

“Clearly the vice chairman is on her means there, not associated to this specific subject which will probably be labored via army channels, but it surely was extra concerning the mechanism for the way it will be delivered and that’s the subject that’s operational and we’re nonetheless discussing,” Psaki mentioned.

Psaki additionally mentioned there are “clearly logistical challenges” with the proposal from Poland, together with getting planes into Ukraine in a means that isn’t escalatory, probably having to disassemble and reassemble planes, and making certain the aircrafts’ secure motion amid a struggle.

Nevertheless, the Pentagon on Wednesday flat out rejected the thought, with spokesman John Kirby saying in a briefing that the US does not assist the switch of fight plane to Ukraine, both by Poland transferring them to Ukraine with the US backfilling Poland’s fleet or by Poland transferring the MiG-29s to the US to then give them to Ukraine.

The US intelligence neighborhood believes transferring the planes to Ukraine now may very well be seen by Russian President Vladimir Putin as an “escalatory step,” Kirby mentioned.

“The intelligence neighborhood has assessed that the switch of MiG-29’s to Ukraine could also be mistaken as escalatory and will end in vital Russian response that may enhance the prospects of a army escalation with NATO,” Kirby mentioned.

The Protection Division mentioned in lieu of facilitating the switch of MiG-29 fighter jets from Poland to Ukraine, the US is in dialogue with “many international locations” about offering extra air protection methods to Ukraine.

A present of western unity

Harris’ journey is a part of the US’ bigger diplomatic push to bolster the West’s unity in opposition to Russian aggression in Ukraine. The vice chairman can also be taking part in a job in reassuring NATO’s jap European member international locations amid issues that Russia might have its sights set on them subsequent.

Officers have mentioned Harris plans to make use of the journey to focus primarily on “subsequent steps” in jap Europe’s dealing with of the continuing battle, together with future plans associated to sanctions, refugees and army help to Ukraine.

The humanitarian disaster unfolding in Europe was evident proper exterior her door.

Simply throughout the road from her lodge in Warsaw is the central bus station the place refugees fleeing violence in Ukraine have been arriving by the 1000’s since final week.

Inside, volunteers in yellow vests are directing the brand new arrivals to counters serving to with lodging, translation and onward journeys. Lengthy strains wrap round tables providing scorching espresso and sandwiches. Bins of donated garments are positioned in corners and piles of diapers and child merchandise can be found for the taking.

The brand new arrivals appeared dazed and considerably disoriented, albeit relieved to have arrived in Poland. None mentioned they knew the American vice chairman was additionally in Warsaw, staying within the lodge subsequent door.

One girl, who declined to offer her title, had simply arrived with a small household and their husky combine. She mentioned she did not know Harris was visiting Warsaw; in spite of everything, she’d simply accomplished a protracted journey out of Ukraine.

If she had a message for the US, it was merely: “please assist Ukraine.”

This story has been up to date with extra reporting.