As one “big mistake” characterized the US presidentJoe Biden speaking to reporters about Russia’s decision to withdraw from the New Start agreement, as he entered the presidential palace in Warsaw, where he is meeting today with leaders from countries on the eastern edge of the NATO alliance.

“Kiev is strong,” Biden said, adding that the world was responding to a “test for the ages” amid heightened tensions between the US and Russia.

Yesterday, during his speech in Warsaw, Biden said that “the West is not conspiring to attack Russia, as Putin said.” “The millions of Russian citizens who only want to live in peace with their neighbors are not enemies,” he added.

The US president, who the previous day had made a surprise visit to Kiev where he pledged to supply weapons to the Ukrainians, also underlined that US support for Ukraine “will not weaken”. “Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia, never,” the American president repeated, referring to America’s “iron will.”

“NATO will not be divided and we will not give up,” assured Biden, who is expected to return to Washington this evening.