Ukraine conflict: Biden causes huge irritation when Putin warns - Navalny makes him look ridiculous

Created: 01/20/2022, 12:50 p.m

US President Biden wanted to make his position clear to his Russian colleague Putin in the Ukraine conflict.

One statement, however, causes confusion.

• US President Joe Biden* wanted to clearly warn Russia of an invasion of Ukraine*, but a statement at the press conference caused a lot of confusion

  (see first report)

  .

• The Russian Foreign Ministry attacked journalists at Biden's press conference for their questions and accused them of "criminal negligence

  (see update of January 20, 9:20 a.m.).

• Meanwhile, the delegation of Russia* to the OSCE warned the West with a "countdown"

  (see update of January 20, 9:30 a.m.).

• This news ticker is continuously updated.

Update from January 20, 11:30

a.m .: The Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who was imprisoned in Russia, warned the West in the course of the Ukraine conflict of a “trap” by the Russian ruler Vladimir Putin. “The West keeps falling into these elementary traps set by Putin. He makes crazy, ridiculous demands like his latest and how he and Biden must sit in a smoke-filled room deciding the fate of Europe as if we were in 1944. And if the US doesn't agree, he will do something," the opposition activist wrote in a letter to

magazine.

“Rather than ignore this nonsense, the US accepts Putin's agenda and rushes off to organize a few meetings. Just like a frightened schoolboy being bullied by a high school student,” Navalny criticized the actions of the United States. In Navalny's opinion, Kremlin chief Putin fears not so much NATO in front of Russia's borders, but rather a change of power. "In order to consolidate the country and the elites, Putin constantly needs all these extreme measures, all these wars - real, virtual, hybrid or just confrontations on the brink of war." Navalny opined that linking the threat of Western sanctions in the event of a invasion of Ukraine is part of Putin's strategy to avoid being the target of personal punitive measures. He suggested,that the US is pressuring the Kremlin from the outside and its supporters in Russia the Kremlin from the inside. In his opinion, this could split the elites around Putin.

Update January 20, 9:30 am:

The Russian delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) warned the West not to accept Russia's proposals regarding security guarantees. "There will come a moment of truth when the West will either accept our proposals or we will find other ways to guarantee Russia's security," head of the Russian delegation Konstantin Gavrilov told the Russian state news agency

reported.

He is sure that with good will and compromises in every situation it is possible to find a solution acceptable to all parties. However, the time window for this is getting smaller and smaller. "The countdown has started," underscored the Russian diplomat at the OSCE.

Update from January 20, 9:20 a.m .:

The Russian Foreign Ministry commented on US President Joe Biden’s press conference and also attacked the questions asked by journalists. This would amount to "criminal negligence," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, as reported by the Russian state news agency

. “It's amazing how American journalists at Biden's press conference talk about a Russian attack on Ukraine with all certainty, but pretend they've never heard about NATO expansion, or about the provocations of the Kiev regime, or about Washington's support ' the spokeswoman said, adding, 'I think this is criminal negligence.'

Zakharova also commented on the delivery of British anti-tank missiles to Ukraine. "For several days, Britain has been delivering arms to Ukraine using military transport aircraft from its own air force," the diplomat said. At least six such flights totaling 460 tons of weapons have been registered, she claimed, urging the West again to halt supplies to Ukraine.

Update from January 20, 9.15 a.m .:

According to the Russian ambassador in Berlin, the deployment of Russian troops near Ukraine is a reaction to western arms deliveries to Kiev. Sergei Nechayev told the

: "We are reacting to the fact that Ukraine is being saturated with weapons by our Western interlocutors." He added that this is Russia's "absolute right". "It's not a threat, it's a normal situation."

There are also a lot of Ukrainian military exercises near the border.

In Romania and Poland, NATO is installing missile systems that threaten Russia.

"These weapons are interpreted by the West as defensive systems, but they can be turned into offensive systems very quickly," Nechayev told the newspaper.

President Vladimir Putin has made it clear several times that these missiles only need a few minutes to fly to the most important centers in Russia.

"We need firm guarantees for our security, anchored in international law on paper," said the ambassador.

Ukraine conflict: Biden wants to issue a clear warning to Putin - but causes a stir: "disaster"

First report:

Kiev/Moscow - how exactly does he mean that?

US President Joe Biden 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 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."

Ukraine conflict: Ukraine 'shocked' by Biden statement

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 was "stunned" by Biden's statement. The US President had answered questions from journalists at a press conference on his first year in office.

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.”

Biden spokeswoman must clarify statement on Ukraine conflict - "No child's play for Russia"

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

© Susan Walsh/dpa

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.

For months, the United States and NATO have accused Russia of planning an attack on Ukraine.

Russia denies this every day.

Above all, Russia wants to use the deployment near Ukraine to create a threatening backdrop because it says it sees itself increasingly threatened by NATO expansion.

Moscow is demanding binding security guarantees from the West.