Joe Biden Says Vladimir Putin ‘Totally Miscalculated’ Russia’s Ability to Invade Ukraine
President Joe Biden believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin has "totally miscalculated" Russia's ability to invade Ukraine, adding that the latter is a "rational actor."
The Guardian reported that the U.S. president believed that his Russian counterpart had underestimated Ukraine's military power and defiance. Biden told CNN he thinks Putin thought "he was going to be "welcomed with open arms."
"I think he just totally miscalculated... I think he is a rational actor who has miscalculated significantly," the president noted. When asked how realistic he believed it would be for Putin to use a tactical nuclear weapon, Biden said: "Well, I don't think he will."
Biden commented on the matter after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of launching a "second wave of terrorist attacks" amid the blast that engulfed Crimea's Kerch Bridge.
In a video address, the Ukrainian president said 20 of 28 missiles launched by Russia on Tuesday were shot down, and most of the 15 combat drones deployed. Vladimir Putin's state of mind has been the topic of discussion after he suffered a series of military hurdles in the invasion of Ukraine.
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U.S. President Joe Biden on Ukraine Invasion
Joe Biden earlier warned that the threats coming from Russia could lead to "mistakes" and "miscalculation." However, he declined to say what the U.S. would do if Putin's threats materialized.
In the same CNN interview, the U.S. president said there would be "consequences" for Saudi Arabia after it linked with Moscow to announce a cut in oil production, which could further increase gas prices.
Russia recently launched one of its strongest bombing campaigns since it invaded Ukraine last February. The bombings resulted in at least 19 deaths, with more than 100 wounded across the country.
Biden was asked whether he would meet Putin at next month's Group 20 summit in Indonesia, and he said he did not see a good reason for a sit-down.
The president noted that it would depend specifically on what Putin wanted to discuss, adding that if the Russian leader wanted to discuss the imprisoned American basketball star Brittney Griner, then he would be open to talking.
Biden went on to say that he thinks Putin "committed war crimes," so he does not see "any rationale to meet with him now." Without disclosing the U.S. response should the Russian leader follow through on his nuclear threats, the president said the defense department had developed contingencies should the scenario happen.
However, Biden noted that it would be "irresponsible" of him to "talk about what we would or wouldn't do."
Russia's Ukraine Invasion
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke to Joe Biden after a mass attack on civilian targets in Ukrainian cities overnight by Russian missiles. As of now, the Ukrainian president noted that air defense is the number one priority in their defense cooperation, CNBC reported.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on leaders around the world to reject their long-held positions of diplomatic neutrality over Russia's war in Ukraine after the recent missile strikes on Ukrainian cities.
Blinken said in a statement that it is "not the time for abstentions, placating words, or equivocations under claims of neutrality." He added that Russia's attack against Ukraine "presents a profound moral issue."
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he will travel to Brussels in Belgium next week to participate in the NATO Defense Ministerial meeting.
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Mary Webber
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