Biden: Risk of Russian Attack on Ukraine Remains
Joe Biden, President of the United States, once again spoke about the possibility of a Russian attack on Ukraine in a televised address. The US president also emphasized that if Russia attacks American citizens in Ukraine, it will face a decisive response.
Joe Biden, President of the United States, warned Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, once again about attacking Ukraine during a televised address on Tuesday, February 16, and called on him to refrain from war with the country. Biden spoke of “needless death and destruction” and of the international anger that Moscow would provoke with this action and that Putin would face.
Biden said that according to US estimates, approximately 150,000 Russian soldiers have surrounded Ukraine. The US president, while welcoming reports of partial withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine’s borders, emphasized that these reports have not yet been confirmed and the threat of an attack on Ukraine remains as strong as ever.
While emphasizing that diplomacy remains the best way to resolve the crisis, Biden warned that in the event of a Russian attack on Ukraine, the United States and its allies are prepared to respond with sanctions aimed at creating economic pressure and international isolation for Russia.
A large portion of Biden’s remarks in this address were directly directed at Vladimir Putin, who is seeking Ukraine’s rejection as a member country of NATO and further expansion of this military alliance towards the east.
Biden continued: “The United States and NATO are not a threat to Russia. Ukraine does not threaten Russia. Neither America nor NATO has any missiles in Ukraine. We have no plans whatsoever to deploy missiles there. We have not targeted the Russian people and are not seeking to create instability in Russia.”
The US president then addressed the Russian people, saying: “To Russian citizens: we are not your enemy and I do not think you want a bloody and destructive war against Ukraine.” He added that the human and strategic cost of this attack for Russia would be very heavy, and continued: “The world will not forget that Russia chose needless death and destruction.”
Joe Biden emphasized that the United States is not seeking direct confrontation with Russia and American soldiers are not supposed to fight in Ukraine. He said, however, that if Russia attacks American citizens in Ukraine, it will face a decisive response.
The US president warned that the consequences of a Russian attack will be felt within the country and will include an impact on energy prices.
Joe Biden, President of the United States, had previously stated that a Russian attack on Ukraine would lead to the suspension of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline contract. This pipeline delivers Russian gas to Germany and Europe.
Russia has always said it has no plans to attack Ukraine and has accused America of anti-Russian propaganda and fearmongering.
Source: DW
