US Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday emphasized the unity between the US and its NATO and European allies in a speech, and said that the Russian invasion of Ukraine poses a threat to democracies across Europe.
Speaking at the Democratic National Committee’s winter meeting, the 57-year-old said, “Russia’s invasion threatens not just Ukraine’s democracy; it threatens democracy and security across Europe.”
“The United States stands firmly with the Ukrainian people in defense of the NATO alliance. The ocean that separates us will not leave us untouched by this aggression,” Harris further said.
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The Vice President went on to say that unity was the “greatest strength” of the US’ alliance with NATO members and European countries.
The 57-year-old also spoke about the plight of millions of refugees from Ukraine who are pouring into neighbouring countries, and of her meeting with a Moroccan student who had fled from Ukraine to Poland to escape the conflict.
Harris had earlier travelled to Poland and Romania amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine to assure the countries of continued US support and assess the refugee crisis herself.
Subsequently, on March 10, Harris announced $53 million in humanitarian aid to civilians affected by the ongoing conflict.
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“During her trip to Warsaw, Poland, today, US Vice President Kamala Harris announced nearly $53 million in new humanitarian assistance from the United States government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), to support innocent civilians affected by Russia’s unjustified invasion of Ukraine,” the White House said in a statement on March 10.
According to UN estimates, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, at least 549 civilians have been killed by Russian shelling and airstrikes, while more than 2.5 million people have fled the country to seek refuge elsewhere.
