US President Joe Biden has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin against invading Ukraine. An invasion would result in “disaster for Russia,” Biden said Wednesday at his anniversary press briefing at the White House on Thursday. Thus, even in the event of a military success in Ukraine, Russian troops would suffer “heavy” casualties.
Biden also again threatened sweeping sanctions against Russia: “Our allies and partners stand ready to impose heavy costs and significant damage on Russia and the Russian economy.” Biden said he suspected Russian soldiers would invade Ukraine. At the same time, the US President was convinced that Putin did not want a “complete war”. Putin has the choice between “escalation or diplomacy”.
“It’s one thing if it’s a minor intrusion,” Biden said, also referring to a possible NATO response. “But if they actually do what they are able to do with the forces gathered at the border, it will be catastrophic for Russia.”
Biden did not elaborate on what he considers a “minor incursion.” National Security Council White House spokeswoman Emily Horne said shortly thereafter: “He was referring to the difference between military and non-military/paramilitary/cyber actions by the Russians. Such actions would be responded to in coordination with allies and partners alike.”
Biden made it clear again that Russia’s call for the US to reject further NATO expansion to the east is out of the question. At the same time, however, US President Putin appeared to be accommodating when he said: “The probability that Ukraine will join NATO in the near future is not very high.” The country would first have to make further progress in democratization.
Here is the video of the two-hour press conference:
Overall, Biden defended his administration’s record against criticism. Biden spoke of a year of challenges, but also of “tremendous progress”.
Among other things, the US President referred to the increase in vaccination rates since taking office a year ago and to economic successes. Six million new jobs were created during his reign. Unemployment and poverty have decreased, while wages have increased.
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Biden’s approval ratings have dropped significantly, according to surveys, only 42 percent of Americans are satisfied with his work. Biden is under pressure, among other things, because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which his administration has suffered setbacks in combating. While the unemployment rate has fallen close to pre-pandemic levels, inflation is a concern, with consumer prices in the United States rising at their highest rate in 40 years. In terms of foreign policy, the debacle surrounding the US withdrawal from Afghanistan has damaged the president.
Biden also failed to deliver on several key promises. So far, he has failed in Congress with plans for electoral law reforms and a legislative package for social and climate protection – although his Democrats have narrow majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the congressional elections in November, the Republicans could win back the majority in both chambers.
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Biden wants to run again with his deputy Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, he said. “I think she’s doing a good job,” Biden said of the vice president. The 79-year-old Democrat had previously stated several times that he would run for a second term in 2024 – provided he remained in good health.
Harris, 57, a black former US Senator from the state of California, is the first woman to hold the office of vice president. She had recently been increasingly criticized, especially since she had hardly been able to report any success with the topics entrusted to her.
Democrat Biden took over the presidency this Thursday (January 20) a year ago from Republican Donald Trump. To this day, Trump sees himself deprived of victory by electoral fraud without any evidence, and he has never acknowledged his defeat. Trump’s camp failed with dozens of lawsuits against the result. (Tsp, AFP, dpa)
