[ad_1]
US President Joe Biden has warned Vladimir Putin to send additional troops to Eastern Europe if Russia attacks Ukraine, in his strongest warning of a possible collapse in Moscow.
Speaking to reporters after referring to the typhoon that hit the US, Biden said if Putin “goes to Ukraine” he will face “economic” damage. Washington and its allies in the West are discussing serious economic and financial sanctions to punish Moscow in a more destructive way than they did when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.
But Biden added that the US and Nato would also strengthen the security of B9 countries, a group of allies in central and eastern Europe who are a major threat to Russia’s security.
“We see the need to send American and Nato troops to the east, B9, all Nato countries where we have a responsibility to protect them in Russia,” Biden said.
The US has shown no interest in sending troops to Ukraine. But Biden said Washington “will continue to provide, and we will continue to provide security to the people of Ukraine”.
The US president also said that Russia was paying “a bad price” based on its image if it attacked Ukraine.
Biden’s comments came a week after discussing Ukraine’s plight, following warnings from the US that Putin was planning to attack his neighbor with more than 175,000 troops. Biden phoned Putin for two hours and warned the Russian president not to do anything. But it opened the door to negotiations and “settlements” related to Ukraine, offending some Nato allies in eastern Europe.
Since then, Russia has made a list of requirements of the US, including that it prohibits any desire to develop Nato, which was removed by US officials.
“[Biden] represents the idea that nations should freely choose their associates, “Jake Sullivan, a White House security adviser, told reporters.
[ad_2]
Source link
