that has put an extraordinary burden on a poland and the people of the poland. we will continue with the support that we can give you mr. president, in terms of the word that he and the people of a poland have been doing to bear this burden in a way that has been with such grace and such generosity. we also are pleased to have shared with the president what our united states congress have done, which a commitment of $13.6 billion in humanitarian and security assistance that will be then distributed and shared with ukraine and the people of this region and europe. i'll again, understanding that this moment in time requires about eight humanitarian response as well as security assistance. today, i am pleased to say that we are in ongoing discussion with poland and our allies about the effectiveness of sanctions thus far in going forward. as we have announced in the united states, we have to be united states department of justice, started a task force to do what is required and necessary, appropriate in terms of investigation as it relates to any criminal activitie

poland to ukraine.am: robert shell, what do you see as the main security issues for poland in this in this going forward, in terms of defensive readiness should the conflict escalate? robert: we can't allow ourselves to be intimidated by the relatively skillful narrative of the kremlin. that is what they're trying to do. we have seen direct verbal disinformation attacks on poland . polish are not easily scared and will keep their cool. but of course there are various issues related to the way that russia is conducting this war in ukraine, which is not really winning. the myth of the russian army as successful and efficient is gone . having said that, russia has once again shown itself to be unconcerned about human life. any attack from russia on nato countries would be suicidal but we do not want to see one inch of poland destroyed by the madman in the kremlin. so i think there is were going on right now to configure nato to be more directly protecting the defensive lines of not just poland, but the bal

refugees entering poland. the two men will have a formal meeting in warsaw tomorrow. biden's high profile visit -- the vital role of pollen to this vital -- for more on this, i want to turn to steven -- who previously served as ambassador for poland and lithuania. he's now the vice -- for global affairs at the university of virginia. thank you for making time to be here tonight. i just want to draw attention to something i said a few minutes ago. it was not obvious to the world that poland would be at the vanguard of this fights that vladimir zelenskyy says is a fight for democracy, and a fight for democracy in the east bloc and eastern european countries. it just was not obvious the way poland has been going. it's, like hungary had been backsliding on the democratic scale in the last few years. >> good evening, ali. it's good to be with you. i think, in fact, poland has been since it join nato in 1999, the most important strategic repositioned ally of the united states in the region. and that become criticall

poland helps ukraine. poland helps ukraine.here were parts of ukraine, especially during the first and second world war where, in fact, the first and second world war where, infact, parts the first and second world war where, in fact, parts of poland, the shifting borders between the two countries, my own father was actually born in lviv when it was still part of poland. so many people have somebody who once came from ukraine and so also opening up their doors, welcoming them also looking for people offering help and support. this is a sign that basically that they're offering transport. somewhere to sleep for a family. we have seen this time and time again. overwhelming generosity but this needs to be supported by the eu and an enormous number people may be in such a short space of time will need to be supported. where are they going to go? how long are they going to stay? so much more for people to consider and bear in mind. many of these people have literally just come from a bus that has brought them over from just come fro

that brings poland into it. they've already had an errand, missiles drag that hit a turkish ship on the 1st day of the war. so that kind of accident is possible in terms of a deliberate russian attack on poland. i think that's quite remote, i think in terms of risk. the countries that are most at risk or the neutral both so we states georgia, moldova probably followed by a stony ab lithuania and deb bosnia bay because the russians are threatened there and then poland being further removed from that array will change. one thing you notice about about poland approach to all of this as well. in contrast with some of its european and nato partners, is that they've taken much more of a hard line approach to russia than some of their allies. they've wanted more forceful sanctions. they've wanted to know more in terms of defensive assistance to, to the ukrainian forces, but they've been, they've been over ruled on that up to now, what do you make of that? well, i mean, this is our sort of bush history. there's a long,

poland-— in you, poland. yes, we do. poland is the main — in you, poland. yes, we do.st stop on . is the main hub, the first stop on theirjourney further is the main hub, the first stop on their journey further west. is the main hub, the first stop on theirjourney further west. but it shouldn't be only our responsibility. it shouldn't be only the eu's responsibility commits the world's responsibility, because this is the biggest migration crisis since world war ii. find is the biggest migration crisis since world war ii.— is the biggest migration crisis since world war ii. �* , , ., since world war ii. and the speed at which it's happened. _ since world war ii. and the speed at which it's happened. i— since world war ii. and the speed at which it's happened. i must - since world war ii. and the speed at which it's happened. i must mention mulled over, because although it's not in the european union, a population of two and half million and it's got more than 300,000 ukrainian refugees, so after —— actually per capita commits to pay for that largest number. the eu has to

that poland is hosting them. they and our embassies and consulates in poland and across the region are working hard to assist american citizens and their families, departing ukraine, and to help them with the influx of u. s. military personnel, humanitarian workers, as well as assistance. we established a u. s. welcome center close to the ukrainian border. it's been operating 247 since facility the an we have support teams as well station year the board and romania, hungary, slovakia, moldova, to assist any americans who are leaving ukraine at this moment of crisis for millions of ukrainians. and as the security of europe hangs in the balance, poland has stepped forward with generosity, with leadership, with resolve. we're grateful for the strong foundation of friendship incorporation that we built together over many, many decades, which sony are now relying on today. thank you. thank you very much. time for some pictures, please don't ok, that was the us secretary of state antony, blinkin and a polish foreign mi

that address from poland is expected at 1 p.m.tern time, you can see it live on c-span, www.c-span.org and the free video app, c-span now. what do you think of president biden's handling of the russia-ukraine conflict following that trip to europe? give us a call. the phone numbers, (202)-748-8000 for democrats, (202)-748-8001 for republicans, (202)-748-8002 for independents. you can also text us your comments at (202)-748-8003. send us your first name, city and state. we are on facebook.com/cspan and you can send us a tweet at @cspanwj. welcome to washington journal. i am joined by paul mccleary, a reporter for politico. he focuses on national security and defense. guest: good morning. host: i want to ask you about this >> we will leave the last few minutes of the state -- of this tape

and at the moment, poland is, is very strongly. he's not alone or that, you know, are going for going for where it really the credit regime, which is essentially the gas and oil experts. that is again see holland well has done a bit more homework. i mean, they did use the rate is that by the year, you know, i, the end of the c po, column would be totally independent brush because it's taken set. so actually invest in, for instance, liquefied gas and things of that nature alternative route. so of course, some other countries in europe are slightly less prepared, but nevertheless, i think that there is a gathering of mental it's also, you know, you know, a certain kind of political example, or we just mentioned the fact that no matter, i know that it's been some critical or even some sniping remarks from, from the sidelines, but the koreans appreciate and the fact that parents, we believe, actually in having, you know, 3 prime ministers from college, against the mean traveling to t f. and meet with president laskey, which was, you kn

embassy kyiv has temporarily relocated to poland as well and i'm grateful for that, that poland is hostingin poland and across the region are working hard to assist american citizens and their families departing ukraine and to help them with the influx of u.s. military personnel, humanitarian workers, as well as assistance. we established a u.s. welcome center close to the ukrainian border operating 24/7, we have support teams as well stationed near the border in romania, hungary, slovakia, moldova, to assist any americans leaving ukraine. at this moment of crisis for millions of ukrainians, and as the security of europe hangs in the balance, poland has stepped forward with generosity, with leadership, with resolve. we're grateful for the strong foundation of friendship and cooperation that we built together over many, many decades. which so many now are relying on today. thank you. >> thank you very much. time for some pictures. please. >> so we were told this might be a press conference but obviously there is going to be no questions even though we have a full audience there of journalis

and poland. that again has been longstanding, but in particular on the issue of ukraine is unified and is clear. we will do everything together in partnership, in solidarity to support what is necessary at this very moment in terms of the humanitarian and security needs of ukraine in the ukranian people. today we discuss mr. president, many issues that relate to our special bond also because i will say the point of personal privilege. we have a substantial polish american community in my home town of los angeles. but throughout the united states who understands the relationship that we have on many levels, including the diplomatic, but also cultural relationships that span generations. and so through all of that and in the spirit of those relationships and our shared commitments are shared commitment to the importance of international norms and rooms you and i discussed today many important topics in particular as it relates to the stone flank. and we talked specifically about what we care deeply

poland got new jets. that played out in public, the u.s. and nato has rejected that idea. tell me whether you think it would make a big difference. if you took these mig jets available, not being used and gave them to ukraine for their pilots, would it make a difference in this fight? >> i'm not military expert, but i believe, yes, any kind of equipment, and especially since ukrainians seem to be using some of those are the same there in ukraine because they also were part of the soviet union and they have all the stuff, so if they denied russia the control of the airspace because they fly, they scramble those airplanes there, so additional airplanes would, of course, strengthen their hand. but even putin could decide military -- not military expert, in military consideration but politically denial sends a very strong message to russia. i know how they read it there. they read it there as a sign of weakness that they succeeded to intimidate the west, including the united states, with this hint of nuclear

delegation for coming to poland. but first and foremost, thank you for coming here to rzeszÓw, to the region of podkarpackie, which is very close which is located directly to the polish-ukrainian border. thank you for coming to the place where this influx of refugees to poland is the biggest. your presence here, mr. president, first of all, sends a very big sign of unity. this is a huge sign of support and euro-atlantic unity unity with my country, with poland. it demonstrates great friendship between poland and the united states, and a very profound alliance. this is an evidence of great support and care for our mutual relations, but also a thing of importance to me it is a sign and a message that you care about the security of poland. today, mr. president, you met with u.s. soldiers who are deployed here and who watch over our security. they also help in this very difficult work, which is receiving millions of refugees who are crossing the border to our country right now. but first and foremost, they are guarding t

judy: and jane jones us now from poland.ane, so tell us more about this announcement from the russian military. is this a climbdown on their part? jane: judy, there's potential in that. we've seen them coming at it with all of these statements today talking about how first of all, the first phase of this military operation that a special military operations they call it -- they refuse to call it a war has been quote, unquote successful or completed by them. they said they've decimated or massively reduced the capabilities of the ukrainian military. we know that's not true. but they will be moving on to phase two which will be shoring up and supporting the donbas region the separate part of the country. now, there is -- there's hope that this could be an indicator that putin is trying to find some sort of off-ramp to save face. he has to answer to the russian people for the potentially 15,000 soldiers -- russian soldiers that are believed to have been killed in this fighting. and the fact they couldn't take kyiv. we know from

on the next day in the morning, poland coast, it's pace. and we start to convince some other european countries to do it over the course of the next 48 hours. the whole you close. it's the same for swift system. initially, there was no agreement. couple days later we managed together with other ally, our, our dollars to convince the rest. this is how we need to act. also, in terms of the idea, think this, this is very dynamic. we need to be flexible, we need to be, we need to be consistent in poland is quite consistent in calling our allies to be more decisive. we will continue to do it and you think then it sounds like you're saying yes. do you think there's a chance now there is a chance if we remain persistent, there is a chance and we hope that there will be more understanding how much necessary it is . we talk about the, the recent deal between the u. s. and the e. u for the us to provide, i think about 15000000 cubic meters of gas extra supplies of gas to europe. while despite that, we're looking at a time table of the end of the deca

there are boards everywhere in poland, in ukrainian, in english as well, saying you are safe, polandl to the millions of people who had been getting involved and helping out behind the scenes, in all of their tents providing hot food. there are people who help, people bringing in food and making themselves available. 0rganisations, these warehouses. this a shopping centre, it has been completely turned into a temporary emergency area where people can get a bit of sleep. this is happening all the time, volunteers in high vizjackets explaining to family members, i have a driver that can take it to this and this destination. they have never met, they do not know each other, but they had talked. people are opening up their homes, coming here to bring people onto the next part of their journeys. here to bring people onto the next part of theirjourneys. this is a huge effort to ensure the people who have just bled ukraine, huge effort to ensure the people who havejust bled ukraine, fled everything in their homes by family members, and certainty. they do not know when they will go back, to

, poland took its piece of czechoslovakia in the tishinsky region.ved the nickname of the european hyena, now biden, stroking the polish president on the arm warsaw buys $6 billion worth of weapons in the us in the first place. this is a batch of 250 tanks, abrams. american pro missiles are deployed on the territory of poland and 10.5 thousand us soldiers have already been deployed. apparently, this is not the limit alexander khristenko nikolay zakharov arina tretyakova to lead the week. and more about the attitude towards the army, the exploits and their price in the armament of the capital of russia in tula, real heroes were carried out. three guys with a russian, armenian and ukrainian surname three orders of courage posthumously. from tula my colleague andrey kondrashov the famous tula for five centuries, standing guard over the motherland, today is a fashionable clean and crowded city and still gives birth to heroes from the kremlin, which since the sixteenth century has not been taken by more than one enemy, the park beloved by the townspeople,

— mood in poland? you now find ourself mood in poland?ectively on - mood in poland? you now find yourself effectively on the - mood in poland? you now findl yourself effectively on the natal front line. —— on the front line of nato. front line. -- on the front line of nato. ~ ., ., , front line. -- on the front line of nato.~ ., ., , , front line. -- on the front line of nato. . ., ., , , ., nato. we have always been on the eastern flank _ nato. we have always been on the eastern flank of _ nato. we have always been on the eastern flank of nato _ nato. we have always been on the eastern flank of nato since - nato. we have always been on the eastern flank of nato since 2008 l eastern flank of nato since 2008 when russia invaded georgia. throughout 2014 when russia took crimea and donbas we have been warning our allies that russia is an aggressive actor. we need to push back some russia from the borders and to mitigate aggressive goals, not every country was really listening to us. it seems that the eastern flank countries were quite right

the president of poland.tadium, not far from where we are, to meet with these ukrainian refugees. >> wolf, we're so grateful that you're there. to cover that first hand in warsaw. thank you so much. wolf will be with you throughout the rest of the day. >>> also. i want to tell you about the cnn exclusive. an inside look at a russian military leaders, quote, outburst, while meeting with military officials last week. >> according to the readout of the meeting obtained by cnn, u.s. officials describe what they view as a revealing moment from this russian general. cnn's barbara starr has more. >> reporter: with russia's war in ukraine stalled and the u.s. saying morale is a problem for russian forces, cnn has learned a rare meeting in moscow between u.s. and russian military officials which according to a u.s. readout of the meeting contained a, quote, revealing moment from russian major general evgeni ilyin. as the meeting ends, the readout said an attache on the russian side casually asked about his family. and

how worried are people in poland? they are were very much there were my friends or my family members. when all this started calling me and asking, what do you think, how in how big danger is fallen now? shall we be prepared for an for an attack? people in poland, they're really skirt and the polish government is highly alerted. well, what we have seen are russian missiles striking 10 miles from the natal border and or, i guess russia is sir, very cautious trying not to hit the natal territory because that would, that would have for real tragic consequences. but, you know, it may happen that there is some mistake or some, some failure and it comes to an attack, the natal territory where we have to be aware of that. speaking of the weapons deliveries, certainly, ukraine's president feels more is needed. let's listen to an excerpt from the latest in his unflagging appeals to the world community. listen, so we did a good lucko. please do not sponsor the weapons of war of this country of russia. i see roll, no, no euros fo

thank you so much to poland, we have food. — poland.inks, _ poland. thank you so much to poland, we have food, drinks, the _ poland. thank you so much to poland, we have food, drinks, the kids - poland. thank you so much to poland, we have food, drinks, the kids got - we have food, drinks, the kids got bananas and chocolate. it distracted them from the chaos around us. do ou them from the chaos around us. do you think you will ever be back in ukraine? t you think you will ever be back in ukraine? ., , ., you think you will ever be back in ukraine? .,, ., . ~ ukraine? i hope i will go back. i have everything _ ukraine? i hope i will go back. i have everything there, - ukraine? i hope i will go back. i have everything there, my - ukraine? i hope i will go back. i. have everything there, my mother ukraine? i hope i will go back. i- have everything there, my mother is there, my father.— there, my father. there has been lots of support — there, my father. there has been lots of support for _ there, my father. there has been lots of support f

troops in poland right now. the president thanking them for their service. >> what's at stake, not just in what we're doing here in ukraine to try to help the ukrainian people and keep the massacre from continuing. but beyond that, what's at stake is what -- what are your kids and grandkids going to look like in terms of their freedom? >> reporter: the president standing firm in his promise not to send troops into this war. standing alongside poland's leader, he said the true show of strength is the unity of the nato alliance against vladimir putin. >> the single most important thing that we can do from the outset, is keep the democracies united in our opposition and our effort to curtail the devastation that is occurring at the hands of a man who i quite frankly, think is a war criminal. >> cecelia vega with us in warsaw tonight. tomorrow, president biden meets with refugees here? >> reporter: yeah, david, you'll remember he told me when we were in brussels yesterday he really wanted to meet with refugees while

so that's one side of poland, involvement in this conflict. the other is refugees. can you tell us more about poland, current assistance to those coming over it's border he, i would say there is a complete turnaround from polish position and to the bill. arrest crisis we've seen last year, which is actually a little bit continuing here with migrants being sent back at the time. now, this was not so much a difference and to the extent of people's willingness to have. we've seen this on the bill or us side as well and adapt it now the whole country has turned and the borders are widely open right now. also for people of different color and origin will also are sometimes here occur on the ukrainian a polish border. so. busy what we see is that poland is receiving more people in a few days than germany over the whole period during the 2015 crisis. and as far as i can see, they are not asking for help. and foreign minister ro, recently was asked whether they would ask for relocation or other assistance from other european countries, but he just did not answer to that. an

also a key priority for the president is his current visit to poland, assurances that poland's defenses with the polish president due to those meetings expected fairly soon, to begin delayed earlier with the emergency landing issue with duda's plane but everything has been worked out since then. let's discuss what's going on with our chief international anchor, christiane amanpour. she's joining us right now. christiane, what kind of assurances on defense do you think poland is looking for right now? how concerned are they looking at what russia's doing in ukraine? >> well, back in london here, wolf, we were all together at the brussels summit which really was a show of force, not just in the real terms but also politically showing vladimir putin that this alliance is stronger than ever, as they said, and it continues in its unity. what does poland want when it is the front line state whether it is in accepting so many million refugees or, indeed, or and indeed being the base and the k conduit for all the necessary military equipment sent to ukraine from the allies. it's a tricky posit

remember, poland has welcomed more than 2.2 million refugees to poland, and he'll be meeting them inwarsaw national stadium. and then later on, he will be giving an important address that the white house is billing as a major address that will speak to the stakes of this moment. they say that he will talk about the united efforts of the free world to support the people of ukraine, hold russia accountable for its brutal war and defend a future rooted in democratic principles. and i think an important address given here in a country that was, of course, for decades behind the iron curtain, part of the warsaw pact, the soviet military pact that made poland a soviet satellite. and yet now poland is at the center of european security and european solidarity, and that is really a sense ofjust how much the tectonic plates of europe have changed and how much has changed in the last month with president biden very keen to present the western alliance really as totally united in the face of russia's aggression. yeah, totally united, but there is a sort of difference, isn't there in the sense o

as if the house next door to poland has suddenly caught fire and while poland certainly needs to maybe correct the dry rolt that's -- rot that's going on in its own house, putting out the fire next door has suddenly become a much more dangerous threat to democracy, not only in portland but really throughout all of europe. so concentrating on the most urgent emergency that is on poland's front doorstep right now doesn't mean that we're less concerned about the other problems that you mentioned. >> and finally, poland is you pushing for a permitted presence of u.s. and nato troops who up until now have been rotating into poland back to back. that permanent presence would go against the promises that poland made to russia in the 1990s. why is poland pushing for a more guaranteed u.s. deployment? >> well, they believe that since the end of the accommodate war and since poland's arc session to the nato alliance that they have become the front line to the alliance and the key to the entire alliance so they believe that that requires moving the u.s. military presence that had existein germany

she is in warsaw, poland to her right is the president of poland.lp? are we going to give those migs. those planes to ukraine to help them? she didn't answer the question. she did say we have been giving a lot of aid. she did commit to $50 billion in additional aid to ukraine. she said that is 250 million for security assistance. she said 1 billion over the last year. >> brian: the question that came out she didn't get close to answering. it wasn't. >> pete: not even close. >> brian: not subtle in the way she did it. she just answered a totally different question and reeled off how much aid we have given to ukraine. we know that we know about javelins. we know about stinger missiles. we got that. but answer the question. because clearly there was a problem. john kirby said it. there was no communication. we had no idea that the pols were going to have those migs at nato air base and told us to fly them in. that was caught us totally by surprise. john kirby said the pentagon finds unacceptable. >> ainsley: untenable. >> brian: they already answered d

well, officials in poland said _ slow down now?at _ slow down now? well, officials in poland said thatjust _ slow down now? well, officials in poland said thatjust in _ slow down now? well, officials in poland said thatjust in the - slow down now? well, officials in poland said thatjust in the last . poland said thatjust in the last few days it has slowed down. there maybe a few reasons for that. 0bviously maybe a few reasons for that. obviously in the early stages of this conflict people were able to move quite freely, there were people who had cars were able to drive. i mean, we saw those huge crowds of people trying to get onto trains out of here in lviv. 0f people trying to get onto trains out of here in lviv. of course there are still people in besieged cities in places like kharkiv and maria —— mariupol. there is a reason why these numbers of slowed down is that these numbers of slowed down is that the people who are stuck in his worst affected areas quite simply right now cannot leave because it is too dangerous. 0k. right n

poland doing the same. you have signs, you have interviewed people there who have come to train stations saying i have room for three people, four people, come, we will help you. and these are scenes we didn't see earlier last year when we say migrants and people in belarus flooding to the border there. obviously these migrants had come from the middle east and there had been a lot of pressure and ridicule against countries like poland for not taking them in. we are not seeing this now. we are seeing a completely different approach to the ukrainian immigrants flooding in and hearing the united states president saying, listen, this isn't happening at our borders, but we are here to support the alliance and offering you aid, and the $13 billion package passed in congress yesterday. >> all right. jim and bianna, we will have to leave it there. one thing that wasn't mentioned was this kerfuffle about the question of the jets that would be sent to ukraine, which the u.s. says now is not going to happen. jim sciu

poland alone. that's the single most important thing he needs to do in poland. >> ambassador, i think you're absolutely right. and we heard president biden over and over again yesterday while he was at that emergency nato summit reiterate the unity of the nato allies, the european allies here. hagar, i want to turn to you and get you to talk about something that kelly o'donnell just referenced and of course it was a key headline from president biden's comments yesterday, and that is there would be a unified response. if putin were to use chemical weapons, he said we would respond in kind. he didn't give any specifics, though. how do you read that? >> i'm glad that you've stressed the unity question, kristen, because you can see that as a running theme since the beginning of the invasion where sanctions, the whole goal is the unity between the united states and europe. on the chemical weapons question, i have unfortunately a little bit of experience with this because i was at the white house when pr

has become the south and poland has become a big harp for this if what is transports and poland has now a very dangerous and very important to role in this, in this crisis. because indeed there is, we don't know this officially, this is classified, but it is very probable that a lot of a lot of equipment is going to transfer polar. and in fact, that said to be a wine probable reason why there has been several russian attacks on targets on the outskirts of the beef, which is very close to the polish border. how worried are people in pole? and they are worried very much there were my friends or my family members. when all this started calling me and asking what, what do you think? how, in how big danger is, is fallen now? shall we be prepared for an for an attack. people in poland are really skirt and the polish government. this is highly alerted. well, what we have seen are russian missile striking 10 miles from the natal border? and or, i guess russia is sir, very cautious trying not to hit the natal territory because that would, that would have for real tragic consequences. but, yo

neil: you know poland so well.president duda, mentioned the need for more military supplies, the quicker the better. he wasn't talking about ukraine. there had been a great deal of conversations among nato members to beef up troop presence and military presence in those states that border ukraine and beyond those that might not necessarily border ukraine. what do you make of that pitch and where it is going. >> a couple days ago the polls are happy to have the american troop presence but there point is they will fight to defend their country and they are interested in having us support and equipment to enable them to do so but it is always good when our allies are ready to fight themselves. what the us can do for poland militarily and what agreement is available is something for specialists but i see where the polls are coming from. russian hate propaganda is against them. they are not intimidated but they want to talk to the us about strengthening their defenses and this is understandable. neil: anything more come

but poland is filling up. so we are now -- many mayors are now in talks with their counterparts in europe about the possibility of relocation of those refugees. but we are doing our utmost. we are doing what we really can to ease up the tension and to provide humanitarian assistance to all of those, as you rightly noted, more than two million refugees who have already arrived in poland. >> woodruff: i want to ask you about that, but i also want to ask you about your prime minister has proposed a nato peacekeeping mission into ukraine. but we also know that nato pledged back in the late 1990s and 1997, that it would not base permanent troops in eastern europe. so are you advocating for europe to change that policy? >> you're talking about russia acts, which has been violated by russia, and not nato. and we can argue about the definition of the substantial trips on the territory of the so-called new nato member states. i would like to stress very clearly, we are not new nato member states. we're just nato member

but poland has decent infrastructure. poland was early. this is good. and so was spain, imagine that. but the rest of europe doesn't. germany doesn't. >> yes. >> it has an lng terminal but underdeveloped. there is no transportation among the countries. so we spoke to the oil and gas minister here this morning, and they say -- they're fully committed, their contracts are fully committed, they will not withdraw any contracts for europe and repurpose them elsewhere. but they don't -- there's no ability to sell more right now europe. two years is a long time in terms of this conflict and in terms of what the ukrainian people are enduring. i gather -- this is good new -- that germany in particular has a lot of advocates for tightening its belt as the minister said, holding its breath, and maybe rationing -- imagine this -- oil and gas for a period in order to finally cut back on russia -- and you're right, send the message that needs to be sent. this could be the best weapon against russian aggression. >> and of course something that biden has said over and

poland is taking a lead on that. so the president will have a chance to meet with international aid workers and the volunteers and so forth. he'll get a briefing today that'll be sort of a casual briefing and by that i mean not a formal set up. some where he'll be able to hear from some of the people doing that front line work. the white house telling us they want to be sure they don't interfere any of the services being provided but for the president to get a chance to see this. u.s. taxpayers are sending a lot of money to support. the president is making decisions about this to aid these workers and the refugees who are apart of this and so this is as chance for him to see it up close. jose. >> kelly o'donell, it is great to see you. >>> now right now in ukraine a community is reeling after another night of relentless attack. since invasion, over 600 homes have been destroyed by shelling and missiles. mariupol last week, city officials now say at least 300 people died in that attack. nbc news is not able to indepen

troops in poland.y met with members of the 82nd airborne division deployed along nato's eastern edge as a deterrent to vladimir putin. ukrainian forces say they're going on the counterattack around the capital kyiv right now. a u.s. officials says russian troops are now in defensive positions and ukrainian forces have appeared to have retaken territory to the east of kyiv. we're waiting for president biden to meet with the polish pirate andrzej duda. that's coming up moenlts from now. kaitlan collins is here with me in warsaw. kaitlan, what should we expect when we hear from the president? >> it's a big day. of course, he's got this big meeting where he's sitting in with top officials. it's the first time he's met with them. he last spoke with the minister about a month ago since this invasion started, but the first meeting in the last several weeks with these top ukrainian officials. this is a big meeting because ukraine we know has not been thrilled with every -- they want more assistance. that's the

and poland. poland decided it wanted to give a number of jets to ukraine, but it wanted to give it through germany and the united states begged away from that. what needs to be mended and who is convincing who of what right now? >> that's a great question. really, poland, the three baltic state, estonia, latvia, lithuania, most of the countries along nato's eastern flank, they're the ones that have been leading. they've been pushing nato and european union to do more and their history informs this posture. when you see these devastating images of mariupol. they see warsaw being destroyed and that was so important that president biden mentioned that very strident for our freedom and yours, that was the message of the polish resistance in the second world war. they understand what this means and they're also not naive. they are not timid and understanding that we have to meet this russian challenge with strength. we can't be afraid that we're going to provoke. president putin is going to continue t

. >> poland borders ukraine.ou make, ian, of president biden's announcement today on energy? how much of a security issue is energy dependence on russia for europe and advantage for all practical purposes for putin? the russians make hundreds of billions of dollars exporting this oil. >> it is very important. let me just start by saying president biden has done a great job in coalescing the west into a unified coalition against russian aggression. they have been doing a lot to hit the russian economy hard. but this is a gap in our strategy. the failure of the west to cut off the purchase of russian oil and gas, and it has to be addressed. i'm afraid a task force is quite not enough because it is going to take too long. russia as you pointed out sells -- sold in 2021 $489 billion to the west for oil and gas. that means a billion dollars a day still today the russians are selling that oil and gas to western europe, bringing in every week billions of dollars that is used to sustain this war effort. this is a moral s

how worried are people in poland? they are worried very much there were my friends or my family members when all this started calling me and asking what, what, what do you think? how, in how big danger is fallen now? shall we be prepared for an for an attack. people in poland are really skirt and the polish government. this is highly alerted. well, what we have seen are russian, mrs. striking 10 miles from the natal border. and or, i guess russia is sir, very cautious trying not to hit the natal territory because that would, that would have for real tragic consequences. but you know, it may happen that there is some mistake or some, some failure and it comes to an attack. the natal territory, we have to be aware of that. speaking of the weapons deliveries, certainly ukraine's president feels more is needed. let's listen to an excerpt from the latest in his unflagging appeal to the world community. miss phone. so we did a good laska, please do not sponsor the weapons of war of this country of russia. i see roll, no, no

in poland, the us president — spreading. in poland, the us president joe _ spreading.dent joe biden - spreading. in poland, the us president joe biden join - spreading. in poland, the us| president joe biden join talks presidentjoe biden join talks between senior american and ukrainian officials and later he will make a speech in warsaw, calling on the international community to oppose the russian invasion. the world now waits to see if this conflict really is about to enter a new phase, although russia is keen to show that it can and will continue its military campaign in ukraine. let's go straight to our correspondent in warsaw. let's start with the meeting between the two presidents, of the united states and poland. some lines starting to emerge from that meeting, we think we are hearing president biden has said poland is taking a significant responsibility in the humanitarian crisis, and has said that the world should lessen, help lessen the burden. what more can we expect to hearfrom president biden, do you think? i hear from president biden, do you think? ~' hear

poland and its nato and eu partners.much the message of president biden�*s trip up until now, first in brussels and then here in poland. he is meeting the polish president after a slight disagreement a couple of weeks ago when the polish authorities had proposed that polish fighterjets would be transferred to ukraine via an american air base in germany. that met a fairly cool response from the americans, who said that they were taken by surprise. they were not consulted about that and that they did not think that was a workable plan. because they fear that that would have been perceived by the russians as a direct military confrontation between nato and russia. but we understand that the poles are saying that i still on the table, so perhaps part of those discussions between poland and the us and i think an interesting part of all this, rebecca, is that the relationship between these two presidents actually was on a fairly downward spiral before the ukraine war. mr biden had spoken about poland's illiberal drift. he had

he's joined by the baltic states and by poland. but then we have the big job, big you states as such as germany and also not the palisade and that illinois, austria, they said no, we're so dependent on russian gas. it will hit our economies a to hard, we not there yet. so this is not likely that that ban on russian gas or oil is a will. it will come in the coming days or months. but the, the german government said they will face out russian gas in the coming years. so there's the plan, but no ban inside it every correspond. marina straus reporting from brussels. thank you very much. was as hours after agreeing on a new energy deal with the u. you, as president joe bind, traveled to poland near the border with ukraine, and a short while ago president vine arrived in says off where he visited troops based in the south eastern setting. while they serve alongside polish troops as part of nato, risen by and will be briefed on the humanitarian response to the refugee in flux to poland. on saturday, mister binah will fly to warsaw for tal

poland is assisting also ukraine in this humanitarian crisis although poland is now -- our reaction waseptional in the outpouring of solidarity and sympathy towards ukrainians. it was really remarkable, but poland is filling up so many mayors of polish cities are in talks with their counterparts in europe about the possibility of relocation of those refugees but we are doing what we really can to ease the tensions and to provide humanitarian assistance for all those more than 2 million refugees who have already arrived in poland. >> i want to ask you about that. your premise to has proposed a nato peacekeeping mission of some nature into ukraine but we also know that nato pledged back in the late 1990's and 1997 that it would not base permanent troops in eastern europe so are you advocating for nato to change that policy? >> yes. that has already been violated by russia, not by nato. of course, i will argue about the definition of the substantial troops on the territory of the so-called new nato member states. i would like to stress very clearly that we are not new nato member states. w