According to foreign media reports such as the US "Business Insider" website, when US President Biden mentioned the situation in Ukraine at a press conference on January 19, local time, it seemed to imply that if Russia carried out a "small-scale invasion" of Ukraine, the United States may not react strongly. This prompted the White House to urgently clarify its remarks, and NATO and Ukraine also expressed their positions on this.
U.S. President Joe Biden. Image source: Visual China
Biden said in his speech on the 19th that he speculated that Russia would "invade" Ukraine, and NATO needed to agree on countermeasures. "I think what you're going to see is that if Russia invades, it will be held accountable, depending on what it does," he said. If this is a small invasion, we (NATO) will eventually have to argue about what to do and what not to do. ”
After Biden made the remarks, he was criticized by politicians including former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and senior Senate Armed Services Committee member James Inkhov. They believe that Biden's speech is a "show of weakness" to the Russian side.
Shortly after Biden's speech, National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horn said the president's remarks were actually distinguishing between military and non-military reactions and did not mean to hold Russia accountable.
At a White House briefing late 19th, when White House Press Secretary Jan Psaki was asked to clarify Biden's remarks, she said: "If any Russian troops cross the Ukrainian border, it will be a new invasion, and it will be met with a swift, harsh and unified response from the United States and our allies." ”
President of Ukraine Zelenskiy. Image source: Visual China
Biden's remarks were also attacked by Ukrainian President Zelenskiy. Zelenskiy said on Twitter on the 20th: "We would like to remind some big countries that there are no small invasions and small countries, just like there is no slight sadness and pain when losing a loved one." I said this as the president of a big country (Ukraine). ”
NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg said on the 20th that Biden's "small-scale invasion" remarks did not give a green light for Russia to invade Ukraine.
NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg. Image source: Visual China
Stoltenberg also said allies were stepping up their support for Ukraine, considering Russia-related sanctions and "considering increased DEPLOYMENT OF NATO forces in the east of NATO." He said Russia had been invited to a series of meetings to find a political solution.