U.S. President Barack Obama reiterated on June 4 that his new initiative to boost the security of allies and partners in Europe will also include supporting Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia to help them “provide for their own defense.”

In his speech delivered in Warsaw's Castle Square at a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of elections in Poland that led to the end of Communist rule in Poland, President Obama condemned “Russia’s aggression in Ukraine” and said that free nations should “stand with those who seek freedom.”

After reaffirming the U.S. commitment to NATO’s principle of collective defense, Obama said: “Yesterday, I announced a new initiative to bolster the security of our NATO allies and increase America’s military presence in Europe. With the support of Congress, this will mean more pre-positioned equipment to respond quickly in a crisis, and exercises and training to keep our forces ready; additional U.S. forces – in the air, and sea, and on land, including here in Poland.”

“And it will mean increased support to help friends like Ukraine, and Moldova and Georgia provide for their own defense,” the U.S. President said.

President Obama urged the Congress on June 3 to support USD 1 billion “European Reassurance Initiative” plan to increase U.S. military deployments in Eastern European allies and to support partners, including Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.

The White House said that the European Reassurance Initiative will enable the United States in the next year to undertake series of measure, which, among others, will also include building of “partner capacity of close friends such as Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine so they can better work alongside the United States and NATO, as well as provide for their own defense.”

In his keynote speech in Warsaw on June 4, President Obama also said: “Wherever people are willing to do the hard work of building democracy – from Tbilisi to Tunis, from Rangoon to Freetown – they will have a partner in our nations.”