Vice President Joseph R. Biden said Wednesday that the U.S. and Europe must stand firm against Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
“We must be resolute in imposing costs” on Russia, Mr. Biden said at a meeting in Washington of the Atlantic Council. “America has stood with Europe and always will.”
The vice president said the U.S. can help Europe become free and at peace “if we remain joined at the hip … united and steadfast.”
The Obama administration and the European Union imposed additional sanctions this week against Russian officials and companies as punishment for Moscow’s annexation of the Crimea region from Ukraine and for fomenting uprisings in eastern Ukraine.
Referring to NATO’s Article 5 shared-defense commitment, Mr. Biden said “there are no ifs, ands or buts about that. It’s an iron-clad guarantee.”
He said the NATO alliance has “never been more relevant” than it is today.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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