We use cookies on this website. By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings, you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy and for us to access our cookies on your device.
Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Ukraine 1YR: Biden (TV)
HEADLINE: Biden to Vow ‘As Long as It Takes’ Support for Ukraine on War Anniversary
TEASER: No viable pathways to peace as the president marks one year since the invasion with a speech in neighboring Poland
PUBLISHED: 02/17/2023 at 1030p
BYLINE: Patsy Widakuswara
CONTRIBUTOR: Katherine Gypson
DATELINE: White House
VIDEOGRAPHER:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: MPage, Holly Franko, DJ OK
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AP, AFP, Skype
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:10
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: TV
EDITOR NOTES: Radio track included. There is an accompanying WEB))
((INTRO))
[[President Joe Biden is gearing up to mark the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with a speech in neighboring Poland on Tuesday, where he will reiterate the U.S. commitment to support the defense of Ukraine “for as long as it takes.” This despite growing Republican reticence and softening overall support among Americans. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara has this report.]]
(NARRATION))
Amid the Russian offensive in Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden will mark the one-year anniversary of the war with a speech in neighboring Poland on Tuesday,
(NARRATION)
said John Kirby, National Security Council spokesperson.
((John Kirby, National Security Council)
“President Biden will make it clear that the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine, as you've heard him say many times, for as long as it takes. And on Wednesday, President Biden will get a chance to meet with the leaders of the Bucharest nine, otherwise known as the B9.”
((NARRATION))
The White House said there are no plans for Biden to visit Ukraine nor to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during this trip, but observers say a Poland meeting between the two is likely. The pair last met in late December when Zelenskyy made a surprise visit to Washington.
((NARRATION))
Observers say Moscow is turning the conflict into a war of attrition in a bid to grind down Ukrainian resolve and exhaust the West’s patience.
(NARRATION)
Ukraine has the advantage of Western high-tech weapons, but Russia benefits from the sheer size of its economy, manpower and defense production capacity.
[Radio track: George Beebe, director of Grand Strategy at the Quincy Institute, via Skype]
((https://app.frame.io/player/733f8393-5762-42fa-9676-6e15128877f6 TC 7:22))
(George Beebe, Quincy Institute) ((Skype))
“We are trying to essentially achieve a balance here to give the Ukrainians enough military wherewithal that they can bring this war to a successful conclusion. But to do so without recklessly raising the risks of World War III as President Biden is fond of saying. And that's not an easy balance to strike.”
(NARRATION)
While there is still broad support for Ukraine in Congress, some Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives, whose party now holds a slim majority, are questioning the massive flow of American funds to Kyiv – $40 billion in security, economic and humanitarian aid since the invasion.
[Radio track: Ryan Zinke, a Republican congressman from Montana, spoke to VOA earlier this month.]
(Rep. Ryan Zinke, Republican)
“This war is being fought on the backs of U.S. taxpayers. And what's our plan, Mr. President? Is it an endless war? Are we going to continue to feed armament that we don't know where it's going exactly, or how it's going to be used? To what extent?”
(NARRATION)
Polls show nearly half of Americans now say Washington should urge Kyiv to settle for peace as soon as possible.
(Patsy Widakuswara, VOA News, at the White House.)
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
the White House
Embargo DateFebruary 19, 2023 12:35 EST
Byline
(Patsy Widakuswara, VOA News, at the White House.)
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
