Biden: There is a possibility that Russia will launch aggression against Ukraine
US President Joe Biden confirmed in a speech on Tuesday that his country has not yet verified the withdrawal of Russian units from the border with Ukraine, warning of the consequences of any military operation that Moscow might conduct against Kiev.
Biden said that "the United States has not yet verified the withdrawal of Russian units," adding that "there is a possibility that Russia will launch aggression against Ukraine."
He stressed that "the escalation must be reduced and Russia must move militarily from the borders of Ukraine."
The US President pointed out that any attack on a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization "NATO" is considered an insult to all member states of the alliance.
He noted that "there are real ways to address Russia's security concerns," adding, "We will respond appropriately to any Russian aggression against Ukraine."
Biden revealed that he spoke to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, "to advance the course of diplomacy to resolve the crisis over Ukraine," and said, "We must give diplomacy every chance of success on the Ukrainian crisis," and that the United States is ready "to engage in the diplomatic option with Russia to resolve the crisis."
The US president warned of a "huge human cost" in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, noting that "there are real ways to address Russia's security concerns."
He said that "Washington and allies are ready to impose strong sanctions and restrictions on exports" on Russia, noting that the Nord Stream 2 project will be stopped if Russia invades Ukraine.
Biden added, "We will strengthen our military capabilities in Eastern Europe," stressing that "we will defend all members of NATO with full force," and that "we will defend the right of countries to self-determination."
On Tuesday, Putin said that his country did not want war, hours after Russian forces that had been deployed near the border with Ukraine returned to their barracks, in the first sign of a breakthrough in weeks.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that his country did not want war, hours after troops deployed near the border with Ukraine returned to their barracks, the first sign of detente in weeks.
Putin said, during a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is visiting Moscow, in an attempt to prevent a slide into a war between Russia and the West, that the solution to the crisis "must depend on the Minsk agreements."
Putin indicated that his country is ready to discuss confidence-building measures, and said: "We are ready to hold talks with the United States and NATO on missile deployment restrictions and military transparency."
Russia strongly opposes Kiev's desire to join NATO, and had mobilized military forces near the Ukrainian border, in a move that elicited diplomatic reactions and global tension accompanied by official visits to the Kremlin to deter Putin from taking any military action.
While Moscow denies its intention to invade Ukraine and insists on conditions for withdrawing its forces, including Ukraine's non-joining of NATO.
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