Pool Reports by Meryl Kornfield, The Washington Post
| Sent: | Reports: |
| July 12, 2023 09:46 EEST |
Travel pool report #1 - gathered Good morning from sunny Vilnius, I will be your pooler on this eventful Wednesday, as the president is expected to attend the NATO summit on its second and last day, meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky, participate in the first gathering of the Ukraine-NATO Council, deliver a speech and travel to Helsinki. The pool has been swept and loaded into the vans to head to summit location for the first pooled event, a meeting of the North Atlantic Council. Your pooler did not see POTUS in the Beast as we passed by. Below is today's schedule shared by the White House. If you have any questions, ping me. EEST 9:00 AM Out-of-Town Pool Call Time 10:15 AM THE PRESIDENT attends the Meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Heads of State and Government, with Sweden, Indo-Pacific Partners, and the EU 1:00 PM THE PRESIDENT attends the Meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the level of Heads of State and Government, with Sweden 3:10 PM THE PRESIDENT participates in a family photo with G7 leaders 3:45 PM THE PRESIDENT participates in a bilateral meeting with President Volodomyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine 7:45 PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks highlighting how the United States, alongside our allies and partners, are supporting Ukraine, defending democratic values, and taking action to address global challenges 9:10 PM THE PRESIDENT departs Vilnius, Lithuania en route to Helsinki, Finland 10:25 PM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Helsinki, Finland Briefing Schedule 9:00 AM Press Gaggle by NSC Senior Director for Europe Amanda Sloat |
| July 12, 2023 10:18 EEST |
Travel pool report #2 - arrived The motorcade pulled up to the NATO site at 10:15 a.m. (all times are local) after an uneventful, 10-minute ride from the RON. Some bystanders snapped photos of the motorcade as it passed. The pool is being escorted to a holding area. |
| July 12, 2023 10:19 EEST |
Travel pool report #2a - motorcade From the WH: Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to the Lithuanian Exhibition and Conference Center: Ambassador Julianne Smith, U.S. Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization |
| July 12, 2023 11:03 EEST |
Travel pool report #3 - updates From the WH: At 3:10pm EEST, President Biden will join G7 leaders and President Volodymyr Zelensky at an event to announce a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine. On background from WH official: |
| July 12, 2023 11:06 EEST |
Travel pool report #4 - NAC From the WH: The President is attending the Meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Heads of State and Government, with Sweden, Indo-Pacific Partners, and the EU. Attendees U.S. Delegation |
| July 12, 2023 13:00 EEST |
Travel pool report #5 - delay The NATO-Ukraine council meeting has been delayed until 1:30 p.m. The pool was brought into the cavernous room at 12:47 p.m. where the meeting will be held. Before the leaders have arrived, we were positioned on risers to face a crescent table in the center with smaller desks surrounding. At the crest of the table was Stoltenberg's seat, with the Biden's on the right of him. Next to Biden's seat is Sunak's and Zelensky's is to his right. Attaching a photo below.
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| July 12, 2023 14:03 EEST |
Travel pool report #6 - meeting After Zelensky and Stoltenberg gave a press conference in another part of the summit, staff and others began to stream into the meeting room for the council meeting. Biden entered at 1:41 p.m. and walked over to a group that included Sunak, Frederiksen, Stoltenberg among others who mingled and posed for photos. It was too far away to hear any of the conversations, but the leaders were smiling and shaking hands as they spoke. At one point, Biden draped his arm around Sunak's shoulder. Zelensky entered at 1:52 p.m. and shook Biden's hand, posing for photos with Biden and others. While the press was waiting before the leaders arrived, the Ukrainian flag was brought into the meeting room and placed beside the British Union Jack in a row of NATO member flags. Stoltenberg gave brief remarks, starting off by recognizing this is the first of such a meeting and saying the gathering would "address the common question of security." He went on to praise Zelensky. "We are inspired by your courage," he said. "Today we meet as equals," he said. Press was then escorted out. Transcript (please check audio for cq quotes): https://otter.ai/u/-sn9geAO4LpyzVBYXyovs3N_B5Y |
| July 12, 2023 14:04 EEST |
Travel pool report #6a - participants Shared by the WH: The President is attending the Meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the level of Heads of State and Government, with Sweden. Attendees U.S. Delegation |
| July 12, 2023 15:36 EEST |
Travel pool report #7 - gathered for announcement Ahead of the announcement of a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, the pool was brought into the room at 3:22 p.m. On the stage, there were flags for the G7 countries, Ukraine and the E.U. Screens flanking the stage spelled out "JOINT DECLARATION OF SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE" in the yellow and blue of Ukraine's flag. Rows of seating were set up in the large room, where an audience will fill in ahead of the event. Remarks will be streamed live here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/ |
| July 12, 2023 16:38 EEST |
Travel pool report #8 - Joint Declaration The event began at 4:24 p.m. as the leaders walked out on stage. Japanese PM Fumio Kishida began with his remarks, announcing the declaration to support Ukraine and welcoming other countries to join. Biden then spoke, thanking the Japanese leader for increasing his country's military budget. POTUS went on to say that the countries would not wait for Ukraine to join NATO to make long term commitments. Zelensky spoke after Biden, thanking the group and NATO for the support. "The outcome of the NATO summit in Vilnius is a very much needed and meaningful success for Ukraine," he said. The remarks concluded at 4:30. Your pooler will not be sending a transcription of these remarks because the event was live streamed. The leaders then stepped off the stage. The stage was rearranged for a "family photo" and the leaders came back out briefly for pictures. From the WH: The President is joining G7 leaders and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at an event to announce a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine. Attendees Speaking Program |
| July 12, 2023 16:41 EEST |
Travel pool report #8a - document See the joint declaration document attached. |
| July 12, 2023 17:28 EEST |
Foreign pool report #9 - Bilat The pool was brought into another room at 5 p.m. for the bilat with Biden and Zelensky. The leaders were seated in a small room. Biden began with his remarks, telling Zelensky that the United States would continue to back Ukraine with additional support. "The United States is doing everything we can to get you everything we can," he said. "Bad news for you is we're not going anywhere." Zelensky then spoke, thanking Biden and the United States for the aid. He then said that he talked with Biden about the criticism from nations that spoke out after the United States said it would provide cluster munitions. "It's very simple to criticize cluster munitions," Zelensky said, adding that Russia uses such weapons. "I didn't hear some of you countries criticize Russia." Zelensky acknowledged it was a difficult decision for Biden but said "this decision will help us save us." Biden made note of Zelensky's thanks to the American people specifically. Biden then asked press to leave and wranglers shouted over reporters asking questions. Staff had managed to get some reporters out of the room while the leaders answered two questions. The wranglers also shouted over the presidents as they answered. Politico's Jonathan Lemire asked if Zelensky was satisfied with the results. "By the end of this summit, we have great unity for our leaders and security guarantees — that is a success for the summit. I think so but it's my opinion," Zelensky answered. ABC's Justin Gomez then asked how long should it take before Ukraine be allowed to join NATO. "An hour and 20 minutes," Biden joked. Pool was escorted less than 10 minutes after we entered. We're now holding in the vans. Transcript (check audio for cq quotes): https://otter.ai/u/kuDTQRGA71Jp__TQh9e0eMpP3WY |
| July 12, 2023 17:32 EEST |
Travel pool report #9a - bilat participants Please note that in the previous subject line I said it was a foreign pool report when I meant travel pool report. From the White House: The President is participating in a bilateral meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. U.S. Manifest Ukraine Manifest |
| July 12, 2023 18:29 EEST |
Travel pool report #10 - rolling The Biden-Zelensky meeting ended, and we are rolling to the RON at 6:27 p.m. Your pooler briefly spotted Biden in the Beast as he rolled past. |
| July 12, 2023 18:46 EEST |
Travel pool report #11 - holding The motorcade got back to the RON at 6:38 p.m. We did not see POTUS get out of the Beast. Our next movement will be to Biden's speech. On the way, we passed crowds gathered along the sidewalks of Vilnius, watching the motorcade pass and taking photos. One group held an American flag with the stars in the shape of a heart. As the pooler yesterday noted, Ukrainian, NATO and Lithuanian flags hung from street poles along the drive from the NATO site. |
| July 12, 2023 19:27 EEST |
Travel pool report #12 - waiting for speech The pool arrived at the Vilnius University at 7:15 p.m. after a brief walk past crowds lining the streets outside the venue of the president's speech. Hundreds appeared to gather in an overflow space that took up a square. many people were holding Ukrainian flags. One man had a handwritten sign that said "TRUMP MAGA." In the venue, crowds of people had small Lithuanian and American flags. They cheered as former presidents of Lithuania and other leaders entered and were seated on risers near the stage. The president is scheduled to speak soon, and his remarks will be streamed here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/ |
| July 12, 2023 20:15 EEST |
Travel pool report #13 - speech Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauseda addressed the crowd in Lithuanian ahead of Biden's speech. Our foreign pooler Marek Walkuski noted that the crowd chanted "glory to heroes," a signal of support for Ukrainian soldiers. Biden took the stage at 7:50 p.m. to applause and cheers from the crowd. The audience cheered as Biden recounted the story of Lithuanian independence from the Soviet Union and said "The whole world saw that decades of oppression and death could not dim flame of liberty in this country." People with Ukrainian flags waved them and the crowd applauded as Biden spoke about the strength of Ukraine in the face of "terrible atrocities" and "crimes against humanity." The loudest cheers appeared to come after Biden said "we would not waiver" through the war. "My message tonight is keep it up, keep it going, keep reminding the world of hope," he said. He stopped speaking at 8:12 p.m. and waved to the crowd before walking off stage a minute later. From the WH: The President is delivering remarks highlighting how the United States, alongside our allies and partners, are supporting Ukraine, defending democratic values, and taking action to address global challenges. Attendees Speaking Program |
| July 12, 2023 20:37 EEST |
Travel pool report #14 - rolling At 8:33 p.m., the motorcade is rolling to the airport. Your pooler did not see the president depart the university after his speech. |
| July 12, 2023 21:04 EEST |
Travel pool report #15 - AF1 and quotes The motorcade arrived at Vilnius International Airport at 8:49 p.m. after an uneventful ride. Biden got out of the Beast, and he walked over to the pool. He answered several questions about his meeting with Ukraine and NATO. Your pooler will have a fuller transcript after the flight. In response to a question about how NATO went, Biden said he "accomplished the goals we set out to accomplish." "One thing Zelensky understands whether or not he is in NATO now is not relevant" because the commitments made by the Alliance, he said. He said he was briefed on Ukraine's counteroffensive, but he was not at liberty to provide details. He said he would consider authorizing sending longer range missiles to Kyiv. The message NATO sends to Putin is that "we're together," he said. We're about to go wheels up at 9:02 p.m. The WH passed on this note regarding the crowd size at the speech: Per the office of the Mayor of Vilnius: The President delivered remarks for an audience of nearly 10,000 at Vilnius University. |
| July 12, 2023 22:03 EEST |
Travel pool report #16 - landed and fuller quotes Air Force 1 landed in Helsinki at 10:00 p.m. Below are the questions and answers from Biden's gaggle when we were in Lithuania. Some parts are paraphrased because the full quotes were hard to hear. How did your meeting with Zelensky go? "It went very well. We accomplished every goal we set out to accomplish." How long will it take to get Ukraine in NATO? "It's not for a while. It's not until the war is over. One thing Zelensky understands is that whether or not he's in NATO now, is not relevant as long as he has the commitments" agreed to by the Allies. Do you feel that the issue for Crimea to be resolved? "17 other things need to be fully resolved too. Crimea is important but there's much more to deal with." What update did Zelensky give about how the counteroffensive is going? "I'm not liberty to get into details, but we talked at length about it with all those military people there, and they are still optimistic but they know it's a hard slog. But I don't think it's appropriate" to describe the details. Do you want to send ATACMS? Biden said they have an equivalent. "What we need most of all is artillery shells. We're in short supply, but we're working on that. They seem very satisfied with everything we're doing." Do you think Menendez will drop his objections on F-16s to Turkey? "I'm confident that Turkey will continue to support Sweden getting into NATO, and I'm confident we'll be able to sell those F-16s." What kind of message did NATO send? "We're together. We're together." From the White House: Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport: Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs |
| July 12, 2023 22:25 EEST |
Travel pool report #17 - Helsinki arrival Biden appeared at the top of the staircase of AF1 at 10:15 p.m., as the sun was setting on Helsinki. He waved and then walked down stairs. He shook hands with officials who greeted him (see list below). The ambassador's spouse gave him a white envelope, but the pool was too far away to hear what was said. At 10:22 p.m., the motorcade was rolling. Greeting the President upon arrival at Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport: Ambassador Douglas Hickey, U.S. Ambassador to Finland |
| July 12, 2023 23:00 EEST |
Travel pool report #18 - ride and lid We reached RON after a 30-minute drive. The motorcade passed many onlookers along the route. Thousands had their phones to capture the presidential caravan, and plenty were wearing bike helmets or had parked bikes beside them. People were smiling and waving as we passed. We did not see POTUS after the motorcade. At 10:52 p.m., we have a lid. A huge thank you to WHCA pooler Jonathan Lemire, a stellar reporter and human who helped this newcomer to pooling immensely. And thank you all for tuning in. Good night from Helsinki where the sun has just set. |
| July 12, 2023 23:12 EEST |
Travel pool report #19 - meetings From the WH: Following his speech in Vilnius, Lithuania on July 12, 2023, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met with Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte of Lithuania to underscore the strong bilateral relationship between the United States and Lithuania. President Biden expressed his gratitude to the people of Lithuania for hosting the NATO Summit. He also emphasized the enduring U.S. commitment to defend every inch of NATO territory. President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. also met with democratic opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya of Belarus to underscore the continued commitment of the United States to defend and advance human rights, including freedom of expression, and free and fair elections in Belarus. |
Pool Reports below by Marek Walkuski, Polskie Radio
| Sent: | Reports: |
| July 12, 2023 16:32 EEST |
Foreign pool note #1 - background on bilateral with Zelenskyy Good afternoon, I'm your foreign pooler for POTUS's bilateral meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The meeting was scheduled for 3:45 PM but will be slightly delayed because of G7. Zelenskyy and his wife Olena arrived in Lithuania on Tuesday afternoon on the Polish presidential jet. They both attended a concert downtown Vilnius with the Lithuanian first couple. Addressing the crowd, Zelenskyy thanked Lithuanians for "a very clear, honest and courageous position to invite Ukraine to NATO". During the event a flag brought back from the battlefield in Bakhmut was raised. Several thousand people attended the event, many of them waved Ukrainian flags. Today Zelenskyy attended the inaugural meeting of a new NATO-Ukraine Council. He held several bilateral meetings, including with Secretary General of NATO and leaders of United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Australia and Netherlands. Previous meetings: Zelenskyy's Bio Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains one of the most popular politicians around the world. He has surprised many by his transformation from a former comedian into a wartime leader. After the full-scale Russian invasion, Zelenskyy's popularity in Ukraine skyrocketed. His approval ratings in Ukraine remain above 90 percent, with more than 55 percent strongly approving his actions as President. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is married to Mrs. Olena Zelenska. They have two children - daughter Oleksandra and son Kyrylo. Agenda:
Military assistance for Ukraine:
In addition, the Biden administration directed to Ukraine $26.4 billion in financial and economic support and $3.8 in humanitarian support. U.S. provided Ukraine with 42 military packages with wide range of weapon systems and ammunition: Javelin anti-armor systems, Stinger anti-aircraft systems, grenade launchers, 155mm Howitzers and ammunition, HIMARS systems, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, Abrams tanks, armored personnel carriers, Humvees, Patriot air defense battery and munitions, NASAM systems, Avenger air defense systems, Mi-17 helicopters, and many, many more. NATO accession: Yesterday Zelensky expressed disappointment calling the plan absurd. "It's unprecedented and absurd when time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine's membership" - he said. Responding to Zelenskyy's criticism Amanda Sloat, senior director for Europe at the National Security Council, said that she also considers NATO's communiqué "unprecedented" but in a positive way. She emphasized that by removing MAP NATO members recognized that "Ukraine has already made significant progress in terms of reform". Today, during joint presser with Stoltenberg, Zelenskyy Zelenskyy changed the tone and thanked NATO for military support and for removing MAP. "I would like to extend words of gratitude to you for these important steps. (…) We highly appreciate the recognition that Ukraine will not need an action plan on its way to NATO." – he said. |
| July 12, 2023 16:48 EEST |
Foreign pool report #2 - Kishida full quote We are waiting for a pool spray on top of the POTUS's meeting with Zelenskyy. In the meantime, a full Kishida's quote from the G7 event: I'm pleased to be able to announce the Joint Declaration on support for Ukraine. today. It's your sort of protocol database at the g7 Hiroshima summit by engaging in discussions that included a wide range of invited countries. We agreed that unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion are unacceptable anywhere in the world. And to safeguard a free and open international border based on the rule of law. I feel that it is a truly meaningful that we the g7 leaders and Vladimir have gathered once again today. Going forward this declaration it will be open to any country that shares the intention that to support Ukraine. I hope many countries will choose to join. G7 will continue to stand by Ukraine. Our solidarity will never waver. |
| July 12, 2023 17:37 EEST |
Foreign pool report #3 - Zelensky's quotes Zelenskyy started by thanking POTUS for his support. "It is really a difficult job for our people, soldiers, civilians, moderacji, fathers and children really to apply hope the and I reminds them all these days, you are with us. I mean, you and and Americans, all of America, Americans and Congress". Zelenskyy defended Biden's decision to supply cluster munitions: "it's very simple, you know, to criticize, for example, cluster munitions, and you made a difficult political decision. but you have to know that Russia used such weapons from the first day. (…) I didn't hear from all parts of the world , when Russia began to use it, I didn't a hear the same kind of criticism" On U.S. support: "You gave us huge support. I want to thank all Americans, we understand that it's more than 43 Billions as of today. It's big support, and I understand that it's all your money, but you have to know that you spend this money for not not just fighting. We spend this money for our lives. After Zelenskyy finished talking a reporter shouted the following question: " Are you satisfied with what you got from NATO. You were so frustrated yesterday?" Zelenskyy engaged but it was really hard to hear what he said over staff asking us to leave. Listening to my recording your pooler could hear only: "We have a great unity……success of the summit. I think so but it's my opinion. Thank you". |
| July 12, 2023 18:29 EEST |
Foreign pool report #4- rolling / full Zelenskyy's quote The meeting between POTUS and Zelenskyy has ended. The motorcade started rolling at 6:27 PM. Ahead of us a short 10-minute ride through Vilnius- one of the greenest European cities, with almost 50 percent of its territory covered by parks and forests. Below is a full Zelenskyy's quote. Sorry for typos in my previous report. Please check against the official transcript. For Zelenskyy's answer to a question I'd rather direct you to travel report #9. Meryl Kornfield did much better work than I. Zelenskyy's quote: "It's really a difficult job for our people: soldiers, civilians, moderns, fathers and children to apply hope in the lives. And thank you very much that all these days you are with us, I mean, you and and Americans, all Americans and Congress. Thank you, Mr. President that you are with us shoulder to shoulder fro first days of full scale war. We appreciate this very much. And really, really, you now, we understand you're leading support, because when you give some weapons I'm sorry that… but I want to say John what I said during the meeting of our Council that it's very simple, you know, to criticize, for example, cluster munitions on which you made decision, difficult political decision, but but you have to know that Russia used such weapons from the first days on a full scale, from the first days of occupation of Crimea, from 2014 and 2015. In all our territories, in Donbas they used it and they continue doing it. Your decision will help us to save us and that's why my appreciation for that. And I didn't hear from all the you know, parts of the world when when Russia began to use it, I didn't hear the same countries criticized Russia. I think that it was very useful to (inaudiable) them. Thank you so much for the help. We really counted on that and we still do today. You gave us huge support. I want to thank all Americans, we understand that it's more than 43 Billions as of today. It's big support, and I understand that it's all your money, but you have to know that you spend this money for not not just fighting. We spend this money for our lives. And the I think that we saved lives for Europe for all the world. So thank you very much also for this summit. At the end of the summit we had I think this Council, which is great success and security guarantees, as you said it and we began to speak about it in Kyiv. So now we see that you had great idea that g7, that also Euro countries, which are the great decisions. And I think it will help very much because it has a real effect, that has very concrete things. So thank you. |
| July 12, 2023 20:02 EEST |
Foreign pool report #5 - Biden speech President Biden welcomed the crowd around 7:50PM to the cheers of the thousands of Lithuanians gathered at the University. Before Biden entered the courtyard the crowd shouted, "Glory to heroes", as a sign of respect for Ukrainian fighters. According to Lithuanian National Television over three hours before POTUS's speech, people began to arrive at the Great Court of Vilnius University. The line to the Vilnius University formed more than five hours before the event. People were admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who could not enter the courtyard were able to watch the speech on nearby screens. Ministers, members of the Seimas and Archbishop Gintaras Grušas were among the first to arrive. Your pooler spotted the following officials: Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, |
Related Images
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Pool Reports of July 12, 2023 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/363872