Biden irritates with comments on the Ukraine conflict

Created: 2022-01-20Updated: 2022-01-20 05:18

President of the United States Joe Biden speaks during a press conference in the East Room of the White House.

© Susan Walsh/AP/dpa

US President Biden wanted to issue a clear warning to Vladimir Putin in the Ukraine conflict.

A statement could also be interpreted differently.

The White House is seeking clarification.

Washington – US President Joe Biden has caused irritation with statements about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The US Democrat appeared to imply at a White House press conference that threatened sanctions by NATO could depend on the extent of a potential Russian invasion.

"It's one thing when it's a minor intrusion," Biden said.

"But if they actually do what they are able to do with the forces gathered at the border, it will be catastrophic for Russia."

The US broadcaster CNN quoted an unnamed Ukrainian government official as saying he was "shocked that US President Biden distinguished between intrusion and invasion".

This gives Russian President Vladimir Putin "the green light to invade Ukraine at will".

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said he was "stunned" by Biden's statement.

The US President answered questions from journalists at a press conference marking his first year in office.

White House seeks clarification

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki sought clarification shortly after Biden's appearance. "President Biden has made it clear to the Russian President that if Russian forces move across the Ukrainian border, it will be another invasion, and the United States and our allies will respond quickly, harshly, and as one," Psaki said. However, the US President knows that Russia has "an extensive range of instruments for aggression" below the threshold of military action - for example cyber attacks and paramilitary tactics. Biden has reiterated that even such aggression by Russians “will be met with a resolute, mutual, and collective response.”

Referring to the tough sanctions threatened by the US and its allies, Biden said 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.

Immediate, short term, medium term and long term.” He suspected that Russian soldiers would invade Ukraine but did not believe that Putin wanted “a full-fledged war”.

Putin wants to put the West to the test, but underestimates the consequences.

Blinken meets Lavrov on Friday

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken coordinated with the most important European NATO allies on Thursday before his crisis talks with the Russian chief diplomat Sergey Lavrov.

In Berlin he meets Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

In addition, a four-way meeting is planned, in which French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian will also take part physically and the British chief diplomat Elizabeth Truss will take part via video.

Blinken began its European trip on Wednesday in Kiev and from there again threatened Russia with "massive consequences" in the event of an invasion of Ukraine.

These would be sanctions that would have financial, economic and export control components, Blinken said.

Chancellor Scholz, who has been reticent for a long time, has also sharpened his tone towards Russia in recent days.

Like Baerbock (Greens), he is now threatening Russia with “high costs” if it invades Ukraine and is no longer ruling out any options in this case.

When asked whether there would also be consequences for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Scholz said on Tuesday: "Everything is to be discussed (...) if there is a military intervention against Ukraine".

At the same time, Scholz and Baerbock are urging them to use all channels of communication for de-escalation.

Tensions around Ukraine

Blinken's trip to Europe is another attempt to defuse the tense situation between Russia and NATO. From Moscow's point of view, NATO is using the tensions surrounding Ukraine to justify its existence - especially after the withdrawal from Afghanistan. The USA and NATO, on the other hand, criticize a troop deployment with around 100,000 Russian soldiers on the border with Ukraine. Moscow points out that these are its own troops on its own territory.

Russia is demanding binding security guarantees from NATO, including a refusal to admit Ukraine and other states east of the alliance.

That is out of the question for the western alliance.

It insists on the freedom of each state to decide whether to join alliances.

Negotiations between top Western and Russian diplomats on Moscow's demands last week in Geneva, Brussels and Vienna initially produced no tangible results.

support for Ukraine

The NATO states are at odds as to what support they already want to offer Ukraine.

While the USA and Great Britain are providing military aid, Germany has clearly refused arms deliveries.

Blinken pledged to Kyiv on Wednesday to continue US military aid.

"We have provided more security assistance to Ukraine over the past year than at any time since 2014," he said.

Blinken also threatened to provide Ukraine with "additional material" should Russia pursue its "aggressive intentions" and invade Ukraine.

more on the subject

Biden pledges support to Zelenskyy in Ukraine conflict

Ukraine crisis: US offers Russia disarmament talks

Scholz against Baerbock: Chancellor is now making Putin a top priority – and Foreign Minister an extra?

In Germany, the discussion about arms deliveries continues. In the traffic light coalition there are first doubts about the tough stance of the government. The FDP does not want to categorically rule out arms deliveries. Ukraine has been demanding weapons from Germany for years in order to be able to defend itself against a possible Russian attack - so far without success. Kiev is particularly interested in warships and air defense systems from Germany.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pressed the brakes on warnings of an invasion.

"The risks have not been there for a day and they have not increased," he said in a speech on Wednesday evening.

"The hype about them has only gotten bigger." Addressing his compatriots, he said: "Now our country is not becoming active, but your nerves are being attacked, so that you have a constant feeling of alarm." dpa