Biden Warns Russian Invasion Of Ukraine Will Cost The U.S.

President Joe Biden issued a statement Tuesday addressing the tensions between Russia and Ukraine, telling Americans that the U.S. is “ready with diplomacy” while also issuing a warning for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We are prepared to continue to work on diplomacy, but we are also prepared to respond in a united and decisive way with our allies and partners should Russia proceed,” Biden said while speaking at the White House.

Biden warned of “the human costs for Ukraine … and the strategic cost for Russia” if Russia chooses to invade. The president also spoke about the opportunity for diplomacy throughout his speech while warning Russia that an invasion “will prove to be a self-inflicted wound.”

“If Russia attacks Ukraine, it will be met with overwhelming international condemnation,” Biden insisted. “The world will not forget that Russia chose needless death and destruction.”

The administration has been trying for months to negotiate an agreement to de-escalate Russia-Ukraine tensions. Biden spoke with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over the weekend, and on Tuesday he stated that Russia now has more than “150,000 troops circling Ukraine and Belarus and along Ukraine’s border,” a much higher number than previously reported.

Biden also addressed Putin’s announcement alleging that some Russian troops would return to their base after completing military drills, stating that it had not yet been confirmed by the U.S.

“Indeed, our analysts indicate that they remain very much in a threatening position,” Biden said of Russian troops.

Biden also warned Americans that the cost of a Russian invasion of Ukraine could impact things like U.S. energy prices and the risk of cyberattacks.

Biden reassured that the U.S. has no plans to send American troops into Ukraine while at the same time saying that America “will defend every inch of NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] territory with the full force of American power” if necessary.

“The American people understand that defending democracy and liberty is never without cost,” Biden said as he warned Americans of how an invasion could affect life within the U.S. “I will not pretend this will be painless.”