Biden: Democracy Is More at Risk Now than at Any Point Since WWII
Speaking at Normandy observance, president says Ukraine must be aided
President Biden joined other world leaders, particularly French President Emmanuel Macron, at the observance of the 80th anniversary of D-Day in 1944, where he delivered stirring remarks about the importance of democracy and international alliances.
Marking the day in which US and Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in northern France, D-Day would become the major turning point of World War II, in which Europe would be liberated from domination by Nazi Germany.
As have several of his predecessors, Biden traveled to Normandy to observe Thursday’s official anniversary. He was accompanied by First Lady Dr Jill Biden.
“We’re living at a time when democracy is more at risk across the world than any point since the end of World War II, since these beaches were stormed in 1944,” Biden said. “Now we have to ask ourselves, ‘Are we standing against tyranny, against evil, against crushing brutality of the iron fist?
“We stand for freedom. We defend democracy. We stand together. My answer is yes only can be yes,” he added, to applause.
Biden explicitly mentioned support for Ukraine against its invasion by Russian forces as a continuation of the work of D-Day.
“We know the dark forces that these heroes fought against 80 years ago, they never fade. Aggression and greed, the desire to dominate and control, to change borders by force, these are perennial,” he said. “The struggle between a dictatorship and freedom is unending. Here in Europe, we see one stark example. Ukraine has been invaded by a tyrant bent on domination.
“Ukrainians are fighting with extraordinary courage, suffering great losses, but never backing down,” the US president added, to further applause. “They’ve been inflicted on the Russian aggression. They’ve suffered tremendous losses, Russia. The numbers are staggering, 350,000 Russian troops dead or wounded, Nearly 1 million people have left Russia because they can no longer see a future in Russia.
Biden has led a coalition of NATO and other countries to provide arms and other aid to Ukraine.
“The United States and NATO and a coalition of more than 50 countries standing strong with Ukraine. We will not walk away.”
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