Biden news: President calls Ukraine ‘Tiananmen Square, squared’ as he’s blocked from visit to border
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President Joe Biden is visiting Poland, which is bearing the brunt of an exodus of Ukrainians fleeing the attack on their country.
Mr Biden’s first stop was the town of Rzeszów, less than 100km (62 miles) from the south-eastern border with Ukraine. He and President Andrzej Duda were briefed on the humanitarian relief response taking place and Mr Biden met with US service personnel stationed there.
In remarks, the president reiterated his belief that Vladimir Putin is a war criminal and described brave resistance of the citizens of Ukraine as “Tiananmen Square, squared”. The president also said he was disappointed that he was unable to cross the border to see the situation for himself, implying that the security concerns were too great — there had been much speculation about such a visit.
Both presidents will meet formally in Warsaw on Saturday.
The visit comes after a marathon series of meetings on Thursday with Nato, G7 and EU leaders in Brussels. Mr Biden said the extraordinary summit was a testimony to the unity of the US and its allies in the face of Russian aggression in Europe.
A number of new sanctions were imposed on Russia as leaders met, and the president said he also wants Russia removed from the G2. He stressed that it is the organisation’s decision whether to do so, adding that an alternative would be for Ukraine to attend as an observer.
Biden eats pizza with troops in Poland and recalls how son Beau hid his name on front lines
Did Joe Biden serve in the US military?- Biden says he was told he wasn’t allowed to go to Ukraine as he praises ‘back bone’ of Ukrainian people
Plane carrying Polish president Andrzej Duda makes emergency landing in Warsaw
Bannon rages at Biden over Ukraine
Steve Bannon is not happy with the president’s efforts to unify the democratic western world in the face of an assault by Vladimir Putin, and made a tortured comparison between the southern border of the US and the violent invasion of Ukraine.
Ex-US General: Putin will have to bring his invasion of Ukraine to a halt
Vladimir Putin could soon be forced to bring to an end his month-long unprovoked assault on Ukraine amid heavy troop losses in a campaign that has lost momentum, says a former US general.
Retired US Army Brig Gen Kevin Ryan, who is also a Russia specialist, says that the Kremlin has “failed to accomplish” its “main military goals” in quickly seizing Kyiv and removing the country’s elected leadership.
And now he says that bringing the conflict to an end quickly is the “most likely scenario” more than a month into the attack.
Graeme Massie reports.
Putin will have to bring his invasion of Ukraine to a halt, says ex-US general
Nato officials have estimated that 40,000 Russian troops have so far been killed, captured or injured in conflict
Jill Biden visits Ukrainian cancer patients at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital
When I learned that St. Jude was working with hospitals in Europe to bring some of the Ukrainian children with cancer and their families here—I felt so proud and I wanted join you in welcoming them. We stand with Ukraine and we’re praying for their families.
So thank you to St. Jude and everyone who helped bring these children to safety.
We often hear that the measure of a society is how we treat our most vulnerable members. We know that we have a responsibility to care for children. But anyone who has held a tiny life—who has looked into those saucer eyes and felt impossibly strong fingers wrap around your own—knows that it is so much more than an obligation.
It is a joy, a gift – the honor of a lifetime.
Utah bans transgender athletes from girl’s sports
State legislators in Utah voted to override Governor Spencer Cox’s veto of a bill banning transgender women and girls from participating in women’s sports, despite his powerful veto letter urging “kindness, mercy and compassion.”
Alex Woodward reports.
Utah bans transgender athletes from girl’s sports, overriding governor’s veto
Governor urged ‘kindness, mercy and compassion’ as LGBT+ advocates warn against legislation’s compounded harms against already-vulnerable children
Biden doubles down on calling Putin 'war criminal’
President Biden doubled down on his labeling of Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “war criminal”, saying: “I think it will meet the legal definition of that as well.”
Jan 6 probe considering questioning Ginni Thomas over texts to Mark Meadows
Members of the congressional committee investigating the 6 January insurrection at the US Capitol are considering whether to question Ginni Thomas, a conservative activist and wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, CNN and CBS report.
Ms Thomas, a Washington-based lobbyist, is facing scrutiny after documents turned over to the committee revealed she sent numerous messages to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows urging the administration to contest the 2020 election results.
Josh Marcus reports.
Jan 6 probe considering questioning Ginni Thomas over White House election texts
Ginni Thomas urged White House to push Trump’s ‘Big Lie’ about 2020 election
Polling: most Republicans are voting “against Biden” this year
According to new polling from the Pew Research Centre, Republicans voting in this year’s midterm elections are strongly motivated by their animosity towards the president – and in a worrying sign for the Democrats, the same effect is not mirrored on Mr Biden’s own side.
The number of Democratic voters who say Mr Biden is “not much of a factor” in their decision is in fact higher than the number who say he is, indicating that whatever attempts he’s making to fire up his voters based on his achievements and agenda have yet to cut through...
ICYMI: McConnell confirms he’ll vote against Ketanji Brown Jackson, but some Republicans still quiet
In an unsurprising move, Mitch McConnell yesterday gave a speech on the floor of the Senate announcing that “After studying the nominee’s record and watching her performance this week, I cannot and will not support Judge [Ketanji Brown] Jackson for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court”. More important, however, is whether the judge can garner any other votes from his party.
Assuming she can get through the Judiciary Committee vote, which seems highly likely, Ms Brown Jackson is almost certain to be confirmed by majority vote in the full Senate, with 50 Democratic votes plus Kamala Harris’s tiebreaker on her side. However, there is also the chance she might pick up some GOP waverers.
Here’s an explainer on what the final Senate vote will ultimately tell us.
Jackson on track for confirmation, but GOP votes in doubt
After more than 30 hours of hearings, the Senate is on track to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman on the Supreme Court
Biden visits service members at barber shop
Per Ashley Parker of The Washington Post in the White House travel pool:
President Biden visited a barber shop at the G2A Arena right next to the Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport, where roughly 14 service members in the 82nd Airborne Division were sitting in folding chairs awaiting hair cuts. Three service men sat in chairs in the front of the room getting shorn by their fellow service men.
Biden came in and sat down in one of the folding chairs behind two of the servicemen, who turned around but did not seem especially surprised to see the president.Biden then went around the room and greeted everyone individually.“
You guys must have just gotten your haircut!” Biden said, observing their closely-shorn hair. He asked if they were getting cuts again and joked there would not be much to take off.
Biden then walked up to one of the barber chairs, where one of the service men suggested that maybe Biden should finish the haircut. Biden laughed and said that was the last thing the young man would want.
We are now awaiting Biden in a cafeteria, where six long tables of service members have finished a pizza lunch, and are also waiting for Biden.
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