AILSA CHANG, HOST:

There have been dueling speeches in the present day as Russia’s conflict in Ukraine hits the one-year mark. President Vladimir Putin gave a State of the Union-type handle earlier in the present day in Moscow the place he talked concerning the conflict. After which in Warsaw, President Biden mentioned the previous yr ought to go away little doubt concerning the resolve of the West to counter Russian aggression.

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PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: Our assist for Ukraine is not going to waver. NATO is not going to be divided, and we is not going to tire.

CHANG: NPR’s Asma Khalid was there in Warsaw, and NPR’s Charles Maynes was in Moscow, they usually be part of us now to check notes on each leaders’ speeches. Hey to each of you.

CHARLES MAYNES, BYLINE: Hello there.

ASMA KHALID, BYLINE: Hello there.

CHANG: All proper. Let’s begin with you, Asma. Biden spoke in the present day, I perceive, from the identical place in Warsaw the place he gave an handle final March close to the beginning of the conflict. What did he should say in the present day?

KHALID: Nicely, the president was right here in Poland, as you talked about, to mark the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. You recognize, I’ll say it was a really totally different environment from the speech that he delivered in March right here in Poland – March of final yr. At that time, you realize, there have been considerations that Kyiv would fall into Russian fingers. There have been considerations about conserving NATO united. And so it was a way more somber speech he delivered initially of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

You recognize, this yr, the vibe felt like a extremely produced rock live performance. It was an actual celebratory marketing campaign speech. There have been fog machines and spotlights, and Biden walked out on stage to the music “Freedom.” And there have been 1000’s of individuals within the crowd waving Ukrainian, Polish and American flags. One important message the president was delivering right here in the present day was only a reminder of the place the world was a yr in the past, the place this battle stood and the place it’s in the present day. And he talked about that Ukraine, you realize, stays a free nation even supposing Russian tanks have rolled in.

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BIDEN: One yr in the past, the world was bracing for the autumn of Kyiv. Nicely, I’ve simply come from a go to to Kyiv, and I can report Kyiv stands robust. Kyiv stands proud. It stands tall and, most significantly, stands free.

KHALID: Biden was talking there concerning the covert journey that he took to Kyiv on Monday. You recognize, Biden identified that Ukraine has remained unbiased far longer than some had anticipated, and he insisted that Ukraine won’t ever be a victory for Russia.

CHANG: Nicely, Charles, Putin’s speech was additionally imagined to focus closely on Ukraine. What did he should say?

MAYNES: Nicely, there was no fog machine. Putin gave an extended speech – almost two hours…

CHANG: Wow.

MAYNES: …Largely recycled arguments blaming the West for the conflict in Ukraine. But Putin actually saved the headline for final. He mentioned Russia was suspending participation within the New START treaty. That is the only real remaining nuclear arms settlement with the U.S. Now, Putin harassed Russia was not formally leaving the nuclear pact. In reality, his overseas ministry even mentioned later that the suspension resolution was reversible. However clearly, Putin linked the choice to Western army assist for Ukraine. Let’s pay attention.

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PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN: (Talking Russian).

MAYNES: So right here Putin says that the U.S. and NATO professed they need to see Russia’s strategic defeat in Ukraine, and but additionally they need to come examine Russian army bases underneath the New START treaty. And Putin argued that was, quote, “silly.” Now, the New START treaty was already in hassle. The 2 sides have been bickering over inspections guidelines ever since, actually, they had been suspended throughout the COVID pandemic. However Russia’s making it clear it is prepared to make use of the treaty’s survival – it at present expires in 2026 – to strain the U.S. to again off in Ukraine.

CHANG: OK. Nicely, Charles, past the nuclear challenge, did Putin give any extra of a way concerning the conflict in Ukraine and the place it is truly headed?

MAYNES: Nicely, Russia carried out assaults on Ukraine throughout the speech. Six folks had been killed amid shelling in Kherson, at the very least based on Ukrainian officers, which can be a solution in and of itself. And, certainly, Putin didn’t say something about peace or searching for an off ramp to finish the conflict. However there are different issues he didn’t say. You recognize, Putin didn’t declare formal conflict. He didn’t announce a brand new mobilization draft or say he was sealing the borders. In different phrases, he did not say quite a lot of issues that quite a lot of Russians had been very nervous about within the run as much as the handle. In reality, a lot of Putin’s speech centered on home points, loads on serving to army households but in addition tax cuts, schooling, investing in Russia’s future, you realize, nearly as if Putin was attempting to enchantment to Russians with guarantees of how regular life may very well be regardless of these irregular instances.

CHANG: Nicely, I am curious, Asma. Did President Biden reply in any respect to Putin’s speech?

KHALID: I might say actually in solely a type of small approach. You recognize, the White Home insisted that Biden’s speech was not set as much as be this head-to-head distinction with Putin. However there was a degree when Biden indicated a response to the Russian president in his remarks in the present day. There was this second when he spoke on to Russians, saying that the West was not searching for to manage Russia or to assault Russia, which Putin had recommended in his speech.

CHANG: And what did Biden say concerning the path forward?

KHALID: You recognize, I’ll say he didn’t actually articulate a transparent, prescriptive message for the long run when it comes to this battle between Russia and Ukraine. He recommended allies and People should be clear-eyed about what lies forward. And he acknowledged that the protection of freedom isn’t the work of a day or a yr, in his phrases. It is at all times troublesome. He warned that there may very well be onerous and bitter days forward, and he insisted that allies will proceed to assist Ukraine.

You recognize, I’ll say Ukrainians have been asking for F-16s. The White Home has not agreed to ship fighter jets. And Biden in the present day didn’t supply any specifics on what sort of further assist the U.S. is perhaps ready to offer. He did say that further sanctions are within the works, however, once more, he did not present specifics on that. You recognize, this speech, I’ll say, was probably not about articulating the following steps for Ukraine. It was actually about energizing allies and energizing People to proceed supporting Ukraine regardless of how lengthy this conflict takes.

CHANG: And, Charles, was there any response to Biden’s speech in Moscow?

MAYNES: Nicely, Biden’s speech, perhaps not surprisingly, was not proven on Russian tv. So it isn’t clear what number of Russians truly will hear what he needed to say. On the similar time, there was intensive protection of Biden’s journey to Kyiv. And that is as a result of whereas, sure, you realize, it is seen as provocative, it is also seen as proof, you realize, of what Putin and the propaganda machine right here have been arguing all alongside – that Ukraine is a puppet of the U.S. and actually only a means for america to pursue its supposedly wider aim, which is weakening Russia.

CHANG: That’s NPR’s Charles Maynes in Moscow and Asma Khalid in Warsaw. Thanks to each of you.

MAYNES: Thanks.

KHALID: Good to talk with you.

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