Vice President Joseph R. Biden landed in Poland on Tuesday on a quick trip to the region aimed at flexing America’s muscles and showing Russia just who they’re dealing with — a White House resolved to turn back President Putin’s aggression in the Ukraine.
Mr. Biden touched down in Warsaw and headed out for a meeting with Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Bronislaw Komorowski, The Associated Press reported. He’s also due to chat with the Estonian president, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, later in the day.
The reach-out to NATO allies comes as Russian and Ukrainian leaders have sent mocking messages to the White House, calling President Obama a “prankster” and “comrade” for his announced sanctions against Mr. Putin’s inner circle and dressing him in a Russian military uniform as a Photoshop joke that sailed around social media.
But now Mr. Biden’s on the job — and he’s hitting Poland to stress the need for Mr. Putin to back off his annexation of Crimea, AP said. He’s also due to fly into Lithuania to meet with leaders there.
All the countries Mr. Biden is visiting are on the border with Ukraine.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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