Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has rebuked Joe Biden over comments from the Democrat POTUS seemingly greenlighting Russia to invade the Eastern European nation.
Biden made the remarks during Thursday’s disastrous press conference.
Responding to questions from reporters about the threat of Russia invading Ukraine, Biden suggested the United States would turn a blind eye if it was a “minor incursion.”
“It’s one thing if it’s a minor incursion, and we have to fight about what to do and not to do,” Biden said about Russia invading Ukraine.
“But if they actually do what they’re capable of doing with the force amassed on the border, it is going to be a disaster for Russia if they further invade Ukraine.”
“There are differences in NATO as to what countries are willing to do, depending on what happens, the degree to which they’re willing to go.”
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki tried to walk back Biden’s blunder hours later, but the diplomatic damage had already been done.
We want to remind the great powers that there are no minor incursions and small nations. Just as there are no minor casualties and little grief from the loss of loved ones. I say this as the President of a great power ????????
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 20, 2022
“President Biden has been clear with the Russian President: If any Russian military forces move across the Ukrainian border, that’s a renewed invasion, and it will be met with a swift, severe, and united response from the United States and our allies,” she said.
“President Biden also knows from long experience that the Russians have an extensive playbook of aggression short of military action, including cyberattacks and paramilitary tactics. And he affirmed today that those acts of Russian aggression will be met with a decisive, reciprocal, and united response.”
Zelensky, whose country is facing a Russian invasion said:
“We want to remind the great powers that there are no minor incursions and small nations.
“Just as there are no minor casualties and little grief from the loss of loved ones.
“I say this as the president of a great power.”
CNN’s Matthew Chance, who is in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, reported that Ukrainian officials “watched those remarks with horror.”
Kamala Harris tried to clean it up too:
“On the subject of Ukraine, I will tell you that the president has been very clear, and we as the United States have been very clear, if Putin takes aggressive action, we are prepared to levy serious and severe costs, period.
“We are clear and have been clear for quite some time, that our first approach and priority and preference is that these issues could be resolved diplomatically.
“We have also been clear and continue to be clear, that if Russia takes aggressive action, it will be with severe cost.
“I’m not going to psychoanalyze President Putin of Russia, but I will tell you this — it is clear to us that the decision is probably in his hands, and we are prepared to take appropriate action based on whatever he decides to do,” Harris said.
UPDATE – White House clarification on Biden’s remarks concerning Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/2ewZzFiI6n
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) January 19, 2022
