“Mr. Biden, send F-16 to Ukraine”: Ukrainian and Polish activists address US President in Warsaw

This was reported on the Facebook page of the Euromaidan-Warszawa organization.

Before US President Joe Biden's visit to Poland, Ukrainian and Polish activists in the center of Warsaw publicly called on him to provide Ukraine with the necessary weapons, including F-16 aircraft. On Monday at noon, the activists convened a press conference in the center of the Polish capital under a screen displaying the appeal to President Biden.

Members of the Euromaidan-Warsaw organization Natalia Panchenko and Victoria Pohrebnyak, along with climate activists Victoria Jedroszkowiak and Dominika Lasota, noted that "today only weapons can guarantee peace."

"Ukrainians on the front line are sacrificing their lives so that the rest of the world can sleep peacefully. Our people need support from the US - to continue the fight, they must have proper ammunition, such as F-16s," said Victoria Pohrebnyak. 

During the briefing, Euromaidan-Warszawa announced a three-day campaign that will last during Biden's visit. The activists plan to stand with a massive banner that reads "Mr. Biden, send F-16s to Ukraine!" near the hotel where the US president will stay.

Natalia Panchenko emphasized that the campaign is peaceful.

"I am a human rights activist, an anti-war activist and a pacifist. And today, in the 21st century, here, in the heart of Europe, I am begging you for real help - weapons. Because only military support can guarantee peace today. Dear Mr. President, please send F-16s to Ukraine. To win this war, the world must defeat evil, defeat Putin and defeat Russia. There are no other options for establishing peace in the world," she said.

Polish climate activists also called for a complete oil embargo on Russian gas and oil. They motivated their call to the US President by the dual tactics against Russian aggression. A full embargo on Russian gas and oil is in the nature of the climate movement and is also one of the main ways to demilitarize Putin's army. And sending weapons is necessary to bring the Ukrainian army closer to victory over Russia.

"Ukraine's victory is within reach, but it will not be achieved if you continue to buy Russian fossil fuels and delay sending weapons to Ukraine. We must demilitarize Russia by cutting off its fossil fuel profits and support the Ukrainian army to win on the battlefield," said Dominika Lasota.

• On Monday, February 20, the US President arrived in Kyiv for an unannounced visit. Rolling Stone reported that Joe Biden was offered a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the border with Poland or in Lviv, but chose Kyiv. According to AP, shortly before the US president's visit to Kyiv, the US side warned Russia against provocations.

• On the evening of February 20, the US announced a USD 460 million security assistance package for Ukraine.

• After visiting Kyiv, President Biden visits Poland on a working visit scheduled for February 20 to 22.