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Joe Biden shortly after his appearance before the press in the White House
Photo: MANDEL NGAN / AFP
US President Joe Biden has caused irritation with statements about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.
At a press conference in the White House on Wednesday (local time), the US Democrat appeared to imply that the threat of NATO sanctions could depend on the extent of a potential Russian invasion.
"It's one thing if it's a minor intrusion," Biden said.
"But if they actually do what they are able to do with the forces massed at the border, it will be a disaster 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 comment: "He shouldn't speak." Conservative Senator Tom Cotton tweeted: "Joe Biden's failure emboldened Vladimir Putin and now he's given Putin the green light given to invade the Ukraine.«
Republican Senator Rob Portman said suggesting "that a Russian invasion might just be a 'minor incursion'" was "the wrong way to view this threat."
Any military incursion into Ukraine would "destabilize" the country and Europe.
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White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki sought clarification shortly after Biden's appearance.
"President Biden has made it clear to the Russian President: 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 "a comprehensive 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 the Russians "will be met with a resolute, mutual and joint response."
The US President answered questions from journalists at a press conference marking his first year in office.
In view of the severe sanctions threatened by the USA and its allies, Biden said 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.
Immediate, short term, medium term and long term.«
He suspects that Russian soldiers would invade Ukraine.
But he doesn't believe that Putin wants "a full-fledged war."
Putin wants to put the West to the test, but underestimates the consequences.
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 his trip to Europe 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.
aar/dpa
