VP Kamala Harris took questions along with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis at a press conference in Romania today. The following question was asked by AP White House correspondent Aamer Madhani.

May I ask, Mr. President, your country and many of your neighbors are enduring enormous costs aiding Ukrainian refugees and you also face a dire threat in the Black Sea. I was just wondering what specifically you have asked the vice president for, particularly do you need more U.S. Troops here? Do you need any specific more material defense aid?

The above was obviously directed to President Iohannis. Now for part two:

And if I can ask you, Madam Vice President, President Biden has said that Americans will feel some pain for the sake of defending freedom and liberty but there seems to be no endgame in sight. How long should Americans expect and be bracing for this really sort of historic inflation and some unprecedented gas prices?

Here is her answer:

In terms of the discussions that the president here and I had, they range in subject including the issue of the Black Sea, and I will let him explain in more detail as he would like. But we are again fully aware and apparised because we are in constant communication with the president, with his administration here, about the concerns that they have about the entire region and frankly the vulnerability.

All you have to do is look at the map. And see that where Romania exists geographically, and as is the case for our allies on the eastern flank, that there are potential vulnerabilities, which is why we say very clearly we'll dedicate and have been especially enhancing over the last few weeks our support based on their current needs.

When we look at Putin's actions, the previous question, there is -- it is painful to watch. It is painful to watch what is happening to innocent people in Ukraine who just want to live in their own country and have pride in themselves as Ukrainians, who want to be home speaking the language they know, going to the church that they know, raising their children in the community where their families have lived for generations. And by the millions now are having to flee with nothing but a backpack.

And then you compound that with what happened a couple of days -- the president talked about it, in terms of a maternity hospital, pregnant women -- We have the unfortunate experience, all of us right now who are not in Ukraine, of witnessing horror.

So we are committed in everything we are doing and yes, the president did say in the State of the Union there is a price to pay for democracy.

You have to stand with your friends. And as everybody knows even in your personal life, being loyal to those friendships based on common principles and values, sometimes it's difficult. Often it ain't easy. But that's what the friendship is about based on shared values. So that's what we're doing.

Cool. Now I know just how long these inflated prices will last. I think?

I particularly enjoyed, "sometimes it's difficult. Often it ain't easy"