Biden assumes that Russia will invade Ukraine. American president's press conference key points
Photo: Rubryka
President Biden has stated he expects Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine, giving a disappointing assessment of the ability of the United States and its European allies to persuade the Russian leader not to send troops across the border.
He stated this during a press conference dedicated to the first anniversary of his presidency.
"Do I think he will test the West, test the United States and NATO as seriously as he can? Yes, I think he will," Biden told reporters at a White House news conference. "I think he'll have to pay a serious and dear price for it, and he's not thinking about that price now. And I think he will regret that he did it."
When asked if the president agreed with the impending invasion, Biden said: "I assume he will invade. He needs to do something."
In the last few months, Russia has sent more than 100,000 troops to the border with Ukraine.
Biden promised to impose strict sanctions in the event of an invasion but also suggested that they were not enough to keep Putin from continuing hostilities.
"It simply came to our notice then. But I think it will hurt him," he said.
Answering the following questions, Biden was less confident about Putin's decision to invade.
"I suspect that deciding what he's going to do is influenced by which side of the bed he gets up in the morning," Biden said.
Also, read: Why Blinken came and what's the likelihood of a full-scale war: what Ukrainians should prepare for.
