poland is doing vital work to respond to this crisis. it has hosted an increased nato presence, supported the robust eu sanctions against russia and it has done a great deal to facilitate security assistance to ukraine. as nato allies were defence cooperation between poland and the united states it is fair to say is closer than ever. sincejanuary we it is fair to say is closer than ever. since january we have doubled our number of military personnel to no more than 10,000, including a brigade of the 82nd airborne division. we have increased the amount and types of military capabilities we positioned in poland. as president biden said, we will defend every inch of nato territory. poland is also a leading responder to the humanitarian crisis. as was said today, more than
secretary of state is touring the region to show support, american support and nato support for the countries that neighbour ukraine and that of course includes poland and he s just been speaking, actually, alongside his polish counterparts in the south eastern city not that far from the ukrainian border. he basically had a message saying two things. the us is here to support militarily places like poland. we said that military cooperation between the two countries has never been stronger and he mentioned that president biden has said that, made a pledge that the us will defend every inch of nato territory referencing the fact that the americans have more than doubled the number of us troops. they are based here in pau then. more than 10,000.
700,000 people had been. flee the violence perpetrated by russia by crossing the border from violence perpetrated by russia by crossing the borderfrom ukraine violence perpetrated by russia by crossing the border from ukraine to poland with more coming every single day. i had the opportunity to speak to some of the folks who have come over just recently from to some of the folks who have come overjust recently from ukraine but i have to say it is an incredibly powerful reflection poland s values that vulnerable people know here they will find refuge. to help support the needs of ukrainians in poland and other countries, the biden administration requested to congress $2.75 billion in humanitarian assistance. that is to meet the needs of vulnerable people and communities inside ukraine as well as to support refugee services including here in poland. that is in addition to the more than $54 million an ouncejust addition to the more than $54 million an ounce just last week. we also sent a
insisting everyone is welcome to come here. the setting up reception centres on the scene is repeated time and time again. thousands of people coming through, bewildered, confused, confused, exhausted. but when we see the generosity of spirit in the polls as well. people welcoming, messaging, saying this is where you are. poland helps ukraine. poland helps ukraine. we had about the closeness historically, culturally, bearing in mind that there was a time when there were parts of ukraine, especially during the first and second world war where, in fact, the first and second world war where, infact, parts the first and second world war where, in fact, parts of poland, the shifting borders between the two countries, my own father was actually born in lviv when it was still part of poland. so many people have somebody who once came from ukraine and so also opening up their doors, welcoming them also looking
recent survey in the newspaper yesterday found that three quarters of people answering the survey said they are taking part in helping the ukrainian refugees, whether it is providing temporary accommodation or donating cash or providing food and clothing to the collection points. i ve never seen anything like it. extraordinary response from the polish society and that was something that anthony blinken made a point of saying and thanking poland for taking a leading role in the response to the humanitarian crisis. he also said that the biden administration has requested from congress two and a half sorry, $2.75 billion which will go to the humanitarian crisis. as adam was