U.S. President Joe Biden arrives at a military airport in Warsaw, Poland, February 20, 2023. /CFP 

Editor's note: Kong Tianping is a senior research fellow at the Institute of European Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN. 

After concluding his unexpected trip to Ukraine, U.S. President Biden began his visit to Poland. It's Biden's second visit to Poland in less than a year after the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which coincide with the eve of the first anniversary of the Ukrainian war. Russia and Ukraine are preparing for offensives and counter-offensives. What message President Biden will convey in Ukraine is worthy of attention.   

Biden's visits to Poland are of special significance, highlighting the significance that the United States attaches to the country. Before Biden's surprise trip to Ukraine, Mark Brzezinski, the U.S. ambassador to Poland, said Poland would be the only country on President Biden's itinerary, "a very clear signal of how important Polish-U.S. relations are."   

Poland is the most pro-American country in Central and Eastern Europe, and deepening Poland-U.S. relations is the top priority of Poland's foreign policy. Poland has become the frontier position to deal with the Ukrainian crisis, and has become a logistics hub for providing military and economic assistance to Ukraine, and a large number of military and civilian materials have been transported to Ukraine. Poland has provided humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Poland has offered shelter for more than 2 million Ukrainian refugees.   

The country has been a hawk on sanctions against Russia in the European Union. It urged Western countries to provide Ukraine with advanced weapons. The United States increased its military presence in Poland. There are 11,000 American soldiers stationed in Poland. In June last year, the United States established a permanent headquarters in Poland to cope with "Russian threats." In order to ensure energy security, Poland has become a major buyer of liquefied natural gas from the United States. The country began to rearm itself, approved the import of $10 billion rocket-propelled weapon system from the United States. The U.S. regards Poland as an important strategic partner.   

Biden will meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda. The two presidents will discuss issues of common concern, including the Ukrainian war, European security and bilateral relations. Poland has its own expectations for Biden's visit. The country will try to persuade the U.S. to provide long-range weapons and fighter jets to Ukraine and increase the military presence of the United States in Poland. It's expected the U.S. will reaffirm its commitment to Poland's security. 

A U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, marshals a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft prior to departure for Poland, February 3, 2022. /CFP  

Biden will attend the special summit of the Bucharest Nine countries. The Bucharest Nine as a group of countries in the eastern flank of NATO, are new NATO members from Central and Eastern Europe. These countries feel the direct threats of the Ukrainian war. It's expected that Biden will reaffirm his unswerving support for NATO allies and security in the eastern flank of NATO.   

The dramatic event of President Biden's visit to Poland will be a speech in the back garden of Royal Palace in Warsaw on February 21. Biden will clarify the U.S. views on the Russian-Ukraine war. Polish Ambassador to the U.S. Marek Magierowski said, "it will be a speech that will highlight the importance of this conflict." Biden is likely to repeat the same rhetoric as last year, portraying the Russian-Ukrainian war as "a battle between democracy and autocracy, between liberty and repression, between a rules-based order and one governed by brute force."   

After U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris declared at the Munich Security Conference that the United States determined that Russia had "committed crimes against humanity" in Ukraine, it's expected that Biden will raise his tone to chide Russia. Biden's speech will show how the West has maintained unity since the Ukrainian crisis broke out.   

From the recent Munich Security Conference, the political leaders of Europe and the United States demonstrated unity in dealing with the Ukrainian crisis. However, European leaders privately expressed their concerns about the benefits from the United States and the loss of the Europe from the Ukrainian crisis. European citizens and businesses felt the pinch of the energy crisis and inflation crisis, hoping to end the war as soon as possible. War fatigue is plaguing Europe.   

As the war is about to enter the second year, how President Biden address to the European concerns deserves attention. In term of domestic politics in the U.S., the Republican-controlled House of Representatives will strengthen the supervision of Biden administration's assistance to Ukraine. Although the Biden administration's Ukrainian policy has won bipartisan support in Congress, some U.S. congressmen have proposed the "Ukraine Fatigue Resolution," calling for halting additional military and financial aid to Ukraine.   

The Biden administration is facing internal and external challenges in dealing with the Ukrainian crisis. Although the Ambassador of the United States in Warsaw Mark Brzezinski regards Biden's speech as "a big speech," some observers from Europe argue that people should not expect big announcements from the American president.     

Kong Tianping, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of European Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).     

The article was originally published in CGTN on February 21, 2022. The article has been authorized.