Biden: Ukraine invasion would not be 'simple' for Russia
Created: 01/20/2022, 00:06
US President Joe Biden speaks during a news conference in the East Room of the White House.
© Susan Walsh/AP/dpa
US President Biden has found clear words for a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Although Russia is militarily superior, Putin underestimates the consequences.
Washington – US President Joe Biden has again warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of the consequences of an invasion of Ukraine.
Referring to the threat of tough sanctions against Russia by the US and its allies, Biden said in the White House that an invasion would not be "child's play" for Russia. Militarily, Russia has an "overwhelming superiority" over Ukraine. "But if they do, they will pay a heavy price. Immediately, in the short term, in the medium term and in the long term.” Putin wants to put the West to the test, but underestimates the consequences.
Biden said he suspected Russian soldiers would invade Ukraine.
However, he does not believe that Putin wants “a full-fledged war”.
"It's one thing if it's a minor intrusion," Biden said, also referring to a possible NATO response.
"But if they actually do what they are able to do with the forces gathered at the border, it will be a disaster for Russia." Biden did not elaborate on what he called "minor incursion." consider.
He called on NATO to unite.
Biden on NATO eastward expansion
Biden made it clear again that Russia's call for the US to reject further NATO expansion to the east is out of the question.
At the same time, however, US President Putin appeared to be accommodating when he said: "The probability that Ukraine will join NATO in the near future is not very high." The country would first have to make further progress in democratization.
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Biden met with Putin in Geneva in June for a first personal summit.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet his Russian colleague Sergey Lavrov there this Friday.
Blinken is currently on a crisis mission in Europe.
In Kiev, he announced that the US would continue to provide military support to Ukraine despite warnings from Russia.
The US Secretary of State is visiting Berlin this Thursday to discuss the Ukraine crisis with European allies.
dpa
