3/10/22 - VP Harris Meets With Poland

Vice President Harris says the United States is 'prepared to defend every inch of NATO territory'.

(USATODAY) - -U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has made a trip to Poland. 

She says that the United States is committed to NATO and appreciates Poland's efforts to aid refugees fleeing Ukraine. 

She met with Polish President Andrzej Duda and during a press conference said, "This is a moment that requires severe and swift consequences for Russian aggression against Ukraine."

The meeting came after the Biden administration rejected a plan from Poland to provide fighter jets to Ukraine. And despite repeated pleas from Ukrainian leaders, U.S. defense officials also have distanced themselves from military requests that the White House believes would run the risk of escalating the conflict: A NATO-backed no-fly zone over Ukraine and any plans to funnel jets to Ukraine.

“The U.S. commitment to Article 5 is ironclad,” Harris said, referencing the principle of mutual defense that is the bedrock of the transatlantic military alliance. “The U.S. is prepared to defend every inch of NATO territory."

Harris also announced two promised Patriot missile systems have been delivered to Poland.

In addition, Harris said the United States will provide $50 million in humanitarian aid, saying the excess amount of refugees has “put an extraordinary burden on Poland and the people of Poland.”

The country has accepted more than 1.4 million Ukrainian refugees, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

►The Biden administration warned Wednesday that Russia may be signaling its intention to further escalate the conflict. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said recent Russian statements have led to concerns it could use "chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, or to create a false flag operation using them."

►The U.S. ratcheted up economic pressure on Russia: The House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to write into law a ban on U.S. imports of Russian oil and energy products that President Joe Biden imposed to punish Moscow. It also passed $13.6 billion in aid money to Ukraine as part of a larger spending bill.

►Ukraine's foreign minister says he discussed a 24-hour cease-fire with his Russian counterpart but didn't make progress. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met in Turkey on Thursday, the highest level meeting between both sides before the start of the conflict. 

►The World Health Organization said it has confirmed 18 attacks on medical facilities since the Russian invasion began.

Harris said Russia’s airstrikes on hospitals were “atrocities of unimaginable proportion” and said the United Nations has a process to review and investigate to investigate such attacks. Harris noted that “the eyes of the world are on this war and what Russia has done in terms of this aggression and these atrocities.”

Ukraine said Russian bombs severely damaged a maternity and children's hospital complex in the besieged city of Mariupol on Wednesday, killing at least three people including a child and wounding at least 17 more. Other hospitals also have been hit, the Ukraine government says.