Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia, Biden tells crowds

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On a day of big speeches from the American and Russian leaders, here are the latest headlines on the Ukraine war.

Defiant Biden: The US president addressed a cheering crowd during a visit to Poland. He vowed that Russia would "never" win the war in Ukraine, and added that support for Kyiv from the US and its allies "will not waver".

Threats to Russia? Joe Biden also said the West was not plotting to attack Russia - contradicting an assertion made earlier by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Duelling speeches: In Putin's own speech earlier today, the Russian premier repeated a variety of baseless claims to justify his invasion of Ukraine nearly a year ago - but also pointed accurately to the fact that the country's economy had shrunk by less than expected.

Nuclear arms treaty: Putin also said Russia was suspending its participation in a key nuclear weapons treaty agreed with the US in 2010 - although a later update from the Foreign Ministry said this "may be reversible".

Meloni in Ukraine: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during her own visit to Kyiv. She labelled Putin's speech "propaganda".

Further civilian casualties: On the day the UN said the civilian death toll of the war had surpassed at least 8,000, Ukrainian officials said five more people were killed by fresh Russian shelling in Kherson - revising down an earlier toll.

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John Sullivan was America’s man in Moscow in the run-up to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

He’s the one who had conversations with Russian officials about trying to prevent a war before it even started.

“There was no engagement,” he told me in an interview. “They repeated talking points… it was a charade.”

Sullivan says that people always ask him how an end to the war will be negotiated.

Vladimir Putin "wasn’t interested in negotiating before the war. He’s still not interested in negotiating," Sullivan tells me.

Sullivan says the goals of the so-called Russian military operation was to remove the government in Kyiv and “demilitarize” the country, which he describes as subjugating the Ukrainian people.

And the goals haven’t changed.

So what would it take for President Putin to stop the war?

“He has to be convinced that he can’t win,” says Sullivan. “Right now, he believes he can win… because he has a long-time horizon.”

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally submitted a draft law to the lower house of parliament after vowing to suspend the country's participation in a nuclear weapons treaty with the US.

Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the lower chamber (the State Duma), is quoted by Reuters as saying that the bill will be considered tomorrow. It will then be sent to the upper chamber.

Putin's statement that he would pull back from the agreement was widely condemned - with the head of the Nato military alliance accusing him of making the world more dangerous.

Russia's decision to suspend its participation in a nuclear arms control treaty with the US is "another provocative move", a Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

"Undermining one of the most important international treaties in nuclear arms control, Russia is making another impertinent challenge to the world community, confirms its criminal nature and further aggressive intention to destroy international peace and security," the Interfax-Ukraine news agency quoted Oleh Nikolenko as saying.

Nikolenko called on the international community to give "a resolute response" to Russia's aggression.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Putin's threat to resume tests of nuclear weapons is intimidation and "nobody is taking them seriously", according to another Interfax-Ukraine report.

"As regards whether Russia is preparing for nuclear tests. We are grown-up people. This man first took the decision to intimidate and then linked it to some messages from the USA and so on," Zelensky said at a joint news conference with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Kyiv.

A year ago, President Zelensky warned – a war in Ukraine would not stay in Ukraine.

Today’s rival narratives from Moscow, Warsaw, and Beijing have emphasised this yet again. They’ve also highlighted the continuing concern about an ever more dangerous escalation.

President Putin’s decision to step away from a nuclear arms control treaty has removed a key pillar in the world’s vital security architecture.

And today’s belligerent tones underline how the divide between world powers grows ever deeper with both sides now bent on achieving victory, ideally this year. Although here in Ukraine, this still seems like a war without end.

The many other countries around the world suffering the consequences of this conflict, are watching with alarm.

President Biden’s comment that this war will define the lives of generations to come underlines how this confrontation in Ukraine will have far-reaching and lasting consequences.

And, only one year into this war, that wider impact is still hard to foresee.

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Back to Kyiv now where Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says her country will send Ukraine more air defence systems, but ruled out providing military jets, adding it's "not on the table."

During a press conference alongside President Zelensky, Meloni added that any peace in Ukraine that included surrendering territory to Russia "cannot be real peace".

Italy is planning to host an international conference on rebuilding Ukraine next year.

President Biden's speech in Warsaw came in the wake of the publication of new figures showing that US military aid for Ukraine is five times bigger than support from any other country.

Washington committed to spend nearly $47bn (£38bn) on arms and equipment for Ukraine's armed forces between 24 January last year and 15 January this year.

The UK is the second largest donor with commitments of $5.1bn (£4.2bn).

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Aside from military aid, researchers from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy highlighted a large gap between commitments on general budgetary support for Kyiv, and money actually paid out.

As of last month, "a mere 48% of the committed foreign budgetary support had been disbursed," they say.

The decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin to suspend participation in a key US-Russia nuclear weapons treaty has been branded "rash" by the UK.

"Arms control is vital to the security of our planet," said a spokesperson for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who urged Putin to reconsider.

Away from Warsaw, Russia has signalled the possibility of compromise on a key nuclear arms agreement with the US.

A decision to suspend participation in the New Start treaty "may be reversible", according to a post on the Telegram messaging app by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

President Putin announced the suspension in his speech earlier today.

Agreed in 2010 and active the following year, New Start was aimed at preventing a nuclear war. It was the last deal on nukes still in place between the two former Cold War rivals.

American officials already believed that Moscow was failing to follow the pact. The fresh Russian statement levels the same accusation at Washington.

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At the conclusion of his speech in Poland's capital Warsaw, Biden is greeted on stage by children waving Ukrainian, Polish and American flags.

Coldplay's A Sky Full of Stars plays through loudspeakers as he pauses to chat with the youngsters.

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Biden concludes his speech by thanking Poland, Ukrainian troops and "all those who defend freedom".

He says: "Let us move forward with faith and conviction and with an abiding commitment to be allies, not of darkness but of light."

And with that he ends his speech.

Biden says the decisions made over the next five years or so will define us for decades to come.

While decisions are ours, the principles and the stakes are eternal, he says.

Biden goes on to say it's a choice between chaos and stability, hope and fear, democracy that lifts the human spirit and the brutal hand of dictators.

There is no higher aspiration than freedom, he says.

Biden once again reiterates the US’ “rock-solid” commitment to Nato.

“An attack against one is an attack against all. It’s a sacred oath.”

He says the coalition is not just about defending nations and protecting Ukraine, but also about building prosperity, peace and respect worldwide.

Biden added that the United States will host a Nato summit next year as the alliance turns 75 years old.

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"We have to be honest and clear-eyed as we look at the year ahead," Biden continues, outside the Royal Castle in Warsaw.

He warns there will "continue to be hard and very bitter days" ahead for Ukraine, despite his conviction that Kyiv will prevail in its war with Russia.

He is confident that Ukraine will steel itself - and that its allies will continue to "have Ukraine's back".

While praising Poland for embracing refugees from Ukraine in the "darkest moments of their lives", Biden adds how "together we made sure Russia pays for its abuses".

He reveals how allies will announce more sanctions this week together so they can "seek justice for the crimes against humanity committed by Russia".

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Biden says the US stands with Ukraine's emergency workers and responders, and those in cities across the country fighting to keep the power on in the face of Russia's war.

He praises volunteers who have helped to support Ukraine and the first lady of Poland, saying they have showcased all that is good about the human spirit.

The president continues his speech reminding the gathered crowds that the US’ commitment is to “the future of Ukraine” which he says is free and sovereign.

But the gravity of the human losses in the war is also highlighted by the US president.

He praises those who have lost their lives in the Ukrainian war fighting for freedom, and calls them “Ukrainian patriots”.

Biden paints a picture of his own land - where people "stand for freedom". He says Democrats and Republicans alike have got behind the Ukrainian cause.

The US and its allies have also looked to address the global fallout of the war, Biden says, after "Putin tried to starve the world" by blocking Ukrainian grain exports on the Black Sea.

Allies have worked hard to "bolster global food supply" and head off a crisis, the US president says.