Biden touches down in Rzeszow, Poland
US President Joe Biden has landed in Rzeszow, south-eastern Poland, where he is to meet NGOs supporting Ukrainian refugees and visit US troops stationed in Poland before going to Warsaw.
Biden will visit US soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division, while his Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda, will inspect troops from Poland's 18th Mechanised Division.
Biden's arrival marks the start of a two-day visit to Poland following a visit to Brussels, where he attended an extraordinary Nato summit, a European Council meeting and a G7 summit on Thursday, as Western leaders are trying to align their policies in face of Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
Explaining the rationale behind Biden's visit to Poland, the US national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, reiterated Poland's role as a Nato-flank country and its hosting of US armed forces.
According to Sullivan, Biden may discuss long-term changes in Nato troop deployments on the alliance's eastern flank.
Later on Friday, the US president will head to Warsaw. His talks with Duda will continue on Saturday.
Also on Saturday, Biden will deliver an address at the Royal Castle in Warsaw.
Piotr Mueller, the Polish government spokesman, said on Friday morning that Biden is also going to visit the National Stadium in Warsaw, which has been turned into an assistance point for Ukrainian refugees, to see how aid is provided to those who have fled the war in their country.
A range of US officials have visited Poland recently, including the US vice-president, Kamala Harris, the secretary of defence, Lloyd Austin and the secretary of state, Antony Blinken.
Biden's visit will be the 14th by a US president to Poland.
