Biden in Warsaw: No 'Time' on Putin Quitting New START, Then 'Big Mistake'; 'Kyiv Stands Strong!' (February 22, 2023)

Russian President Vladimir Putin had just announced that Russia would pull out of the New START nuclear arms treaty, and President Joe Biden was asked about it in Warsaw. He did not have much to say. “Asked by a reporter for a reaction to Putin announcing Russia will pull out of New START, he at first joked he didn’t ‘have time.’ Then after a pause he said: ‘big mistake,’” the White House pool reported [1].

The exchange came as Biden arrived at Poland’s presidential palace for a meeting with the Bucharest Nine, the alliance’s eastern-flank countries. “POTUS was greeted inside the palace by the presidents of Poland, Romania and Slovakia,” the pooler wrote [1].

The video above shows Biden at the Feb. 22, 2023, meeting. Quotes are from the official transcripts and pool reports published by the American Presidency Project [1][2][3].

”F16 to Ukraine”

On the way, protesters had a message for Biden. “As we depart, we can hear a small but well organized group across the street chanting through a loud hailer: ‘F16 to Ukraine,’” the pooler wrote [1].

“Many hundreds of onlookers lined the route, held back on the sidewalks by police in yellow high-vis vests,” the pool added [1].

”The NATOization of Finland”

At the table, Biden told an old story. “As some of you may remember, years ago, when we were expanding NATO, I was the one in the United States Senate who was pushing the hardest to expand NATO,” he said [2].

“And the irony is that one of the last conversations I had with the—our friend in Russia was, I said: ‘You keep asking for the Finlandization of NATO. You’re going to get the NATOization of Finland.’ Well, it happened,” Biden said [2].

The White House readout said the leaders “underscored their shared commitment to stand with the Ukrainian people for as long as it takes” and “looked forward to further strengthening Alliance unity and collective defense at the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July” [7].

He made a promise: “Article 5 is a sacred commitment the United States has made. We will defend literally every inch of NATO—every inch of NATO.” [2]

“Kyiv Stands Strong!”

The night before, in Warsaw, Biden spoke a day after his visit to Kyiv. “Well, I have just come from a visit to Kyiv, and I can report: Kyiv stands strong! Kyiv stands proud. It stands tall. And most important, it stands free,” he said [3].

He aimed at Putin. “He thought he could weaponize energy to crack your resolve, Europe’s resolve,” Biden said. “He thought autocrats like himself were tough and leaders of democracies were soft. And then, he met the iron will of America and the nations everywhere that refused to accept a world governed by fear and force.” [3]

“He doubts our staying power. He doubts our continued support for Ukraine. He doubts whether NATO can remain unified. But there should be no doubt: Our support for Ukraine will not waver, NATO will not be divided, and we will not tire,” Biden said [3].

“President Putin’s craven lust for land and power will fail,” he said [3].

“Autocrats only understand one word: ‘No.’ No. No. ‘No, you will not take my country,’” Biden said. The transcript needed a fix in the next line, where Biden said a dictator “will never be able to ease [erase; White House correction] the people’s love of liberty” [3].

The crowd was big. “According to the Warsaw Mayor’s office (via White House) there were 30,000 people in attendance. Pooler cannot independently verify that number,” the pool reported. “Before departing, POTUS posed for photos with children waving Ukrainian flags, then greeted several sections of the crowd” [6].

The speech had a stumble. “Would we be strong or would we be weak? Would be—we would—would we be—all of our allies—would be united or divided?” Biden asked [3].

By the Numbers

• 9: eastern-flank NATO countries in the Bucharest Nine, as listed by the pool [1].
• 2 days: since Biden’s surprise visit to Kyiv, per his remarks [2].
• 2015: the year the group was founded, per Biden [2].
• 100,000+: Russian forces Biden said invaded Ukraine [2].
• 30,000: the crowd in Warsaw, per the mayor’s office [6].

What Happened Next

The F-16s came, slowly. Three months later, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said: “Just yesterday, as you all know, President Biden informed his G7 counterparts that the United States will support a joint effort to train Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter aircraft, including F-16s.” [4] For Biden’s “No” on F-16s a month before Warsaw, see HYGO News’ page on Baltimore.

Trump took over the peace talks. After his “summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15,” 2025, President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders for talks that “will focus on how to end the war with Russia,” the White House pool reported [5]. For that meeting, see the page on Trump, Zelenskyy and Europe’s leaders.

Sources

1. The American Presidency Project: Pool Reports of February 22, 2023
2. The American Presidency Project: Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Leaders of the Bucharest Nine (B-9) Group of North Atlantic Treaty Organization Allies in Warsaw, Poland (February 22, 2023)
3. The American Presidency Project: Remarks Ahead of the First Anniversary of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine in Warsaw, Poland (February 21, 2023)
4. The American Presidency Project: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (May 20, 2023)
5. The American Presidency Project: Pool Reports of August 18, 2025
6. The American Presidency Project: Pool Reports of February 21, 2023
7. The American Presidency Project: Readout of President Biden’s Meeting with the Leaders of the Bucharest Nine Eastern Flank NATO Allies (February 22, 2023)