Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reminded President Joe Biden on Thursday that “there are no minor incursions and small nations” after Biden botched a response about the U.S. responding to a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Biden, during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday, vowed to hold Russia “accountable if it invades” Ukraine – but also said that “it depends on what [Russia] does.”
“It’s one thing if it’s a minor incursion and we end up having to fight about what to do and not do, et cetera, but if they do what they are capable of doing with the forces massed on the border, it will be a disaster for Russia if they invade Ukraine,” Biden said.
The response prompted an angry reply from officials in Kyiv. Zelensky himself replied to Biden’s comments Thursday morning, though he didn’t call Biden specifically by name.
“We want to remind the great powers that there are no minor incursions and small nations,” Zelensky tweeted, reminding of what Biden’s earlier comments were concerning a minor incursion. “Just as there are no minor casualties and little grief from the loss of loved ones. I say this as the President of a great power.”
The White House was forced to do damage control after Biden’s press conference comments. National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne quickly issued a statement Wednesday evening on Twitter, saying the president “clarified this” and “was referring to the difference between military and non-military/para-military/cyber action by the Russians.”
“Such actions would be met by a reciprocal response, in coordination with Allies and partners,” Horne promised.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki also commented on the matter, issuing a statement after the press conference saying that Biden has been clear on where he stands.
“President Biden has been clear with the Russian President: If any Russian military forces move across the Ukrainian border, that’s a renewed invasion, and it will be met with a swift, severe, and united response from the United States and our Allies,” Psaki said. “President Biden also knows from long experience that the Russians have an extensive playbook of aggression short of military action, including cyber-attacks and paramilitary tactics.”
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