Opening remarks

by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Plenary Session of the B9 Summit in Poland

  • 22 Feb. 2023 -
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  • Last updated: 22 Feb. 2023 15:15

(As delivered)

Thank you so much President Duda, dear Andrzej.

It is a pleasure to be back in Warsaw. 
And to meet with all the B9 heads of state and government, 
and also with President Biden.  

And then Joe, I would like to say to you that I am so pleased and so impressed by the outstanding leadership you show.
And your visit to Kyiv sent a clear message of our steadfast support to Ukraine.
And America’s ironclad commitment to the security of Europe.
Let me also thank you for hosting the next NATO Summit after Vilnius in the United States.

One year since the launch of Russia’s invasion, President Putin is not preparing for peace. 
On the contrary, he is preparing for more war.
                            
So we must sustain and step up our support for Ukraine.
We must give Ukraine what they need to prevail. 

We don’t know when the war will end.
But when it does, we need to ensure that history does not repeat itself.

We have seen the Russian pattern of aggression over many years.
Georgia in 2008.
Crimea and Donbas in 2014.
And then the full-fledged invasion of Ukraine last year.

We cannot allow Russia to continue to chip away at European security.
We must break the cycle of Russian aggression.

NATO Allies have never been more united.  
We will protect every inch of Allied territory.
Based on our Article 5 commitment to defend each other.
One for all, and all for one.

Thank you so much.