Biden still thinks a Russian attack on Ukraine is possible
Created: 2022-02-15Updated: 2022-02-15, 11:18 p.m
US President Joe Biden speaks on the Ukraine conflict in the East Room of the White House.
© Alex Brandon/AP/dpa
Diplomacy in the Ukraine crisis has been running hot for weeks without a breakthrough.
But suddenly there are positive signals from Moscow.
But US President Biden warns against rejoicing too soon.
Washington – US President Joe Biden still thinks a Russian invasion of Ukraine is possible – despite recent signs of relaxation from Moscow.
Regarding reports from the Russian government that some military units were withdrawing from the Ukrainian border, Biden said in a speech at the White House on Tuesday: "That would be good, but we have not verified that yet." An invasion is "still" a clear possibility .
If Russia decides to use force, the United States will act quickly and decisively, Biden threatened the Kremlin.
Russia announces troop withdrawal
Russia had previously surprisingly given a sign of relaxation and announced a partial troop withdrawal.
At a meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Moscow, President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia does not want a new war in Europe.
The United States fears that the deployment of tens of thousands of soldiers along the border is in preparation for war.
Russia rejects this.
Similar to Scholz in Moscow, Biden again campaigned for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine conflict.
"We should give diplomacy every chance to succeed," he said.
"The United States and NATO do not pose a threat to Russia. Ukraine does not threaten Russia." Nor did the US seek to destabilize Russia.
Biden also sent a message to the citizens of Russia: “You are not our enemy.” No direct confrontation with Russia is sought.
Biden threatens sanctions
Biden reiterated the end of the controversial German-Russian gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 should Russia invade Ukraine.
Then nothing will come of the pipeline, he said.
The completed pipeline is intended to bring Russian gas to Germany while bypassing the Ukraine.
The US has always been opposed to the pipeline.
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Biden again threatened Russia with “huge sanctions” in the event of an invasion.
This would prove to be a "self-inflicted wound" for Russia.
The world will not forget that.
The United States only announced on Monday that it would be moving its embassy business in Ukraine from Kiev to Lviv (Lemberg), not far from the Polish border, due to the critical situation.
The US government has recently warned several times that Russia could possibly attack the neighboring country before the end of the Winter Olympics on February 20th and emphasized that such an attack could happen without warning.
dpa