Staff | TVN24

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday morning (March 11) met with American and Polish troops as she continued her visit to two of NATO’s eastern flank states.

The meeting with military personnel at Warsaw’s Chopin Airport followed talks with Poland’s President Andrzej Duda on Thursday to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine – Poland’s southeastern neighbour.

Speaking to troops, Harris again reiterated a pledge to defend “every inch of NATO territory” amid what she described as “Russian aggression and Putin’s war” in Ukraine.

Polish troops presented Harris with a unit patch bearing a mermaid with sword and shield – the heraldic symbol of Warsaw.

After greeting troops, Harris departed for the second leg of her tour to Bucharest, Romania, where she is due to meet the country’s President Klaus Iohannis before returning to Washington.

Harris’ visit came amid a rift between Washington and Warsaw over supplying warplanes to Ukraine.

The United States on Tuesday rejected a surprise offer by Poland to transfer its Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jets to a U.S. base in Germany and put them at the disposal of the United States as a way to replenish Ukraine’s air force.

The United States and its allies are eager to help Ukraine but are wary of any step that might draw them into direct conflict with Russia.

Source: TVN24