“We are ready for anything to happen in Ukraine,” he said. Joe Biden, in his sermon on developments in Ukraine stressing that it still is the scenario of a Russian invasion is very likely.
“The United States is ready, no matter what happens. We are ready with diplomacy, engage in diplomacy with Russia and our allies and partners to improve stability and security in Europe as a whole. And we are ready to respond decisively to any eventuality Russian attack on Ukraine, something that is still very likely. “All the events of the last weeks and months, this was our approach and it remains our approach now,” said the American president.
He noted that there was “room for diplomacy” with Russia to avoid a conflict in Europe.
In his speech, Biden outlined key points that Washington and Moscow can continue to discuss, as Russia continues to gathers troops along their border with Ukraine.
Referring to a telephone conversation he had with President Putin over the weekend, he said he had made it clear that the United States was willing to “continue to pursue high-level diplomacy” to negotiate with Russia.
“Yesterday, the Russian government publicly proposed that diplomacy be continued. “I agree,” Biden said, adding that “we must give diplomacy every chance to succeed.”
Biden said he believed there were ways “to address our respective security concerns.”
“The United States has put on the table specific ideas for creating a security environment in Europe. “We are proposing new arms control measures, new transparency measures, new strategic stability measures,” he added.
However, he made it clear that the United States “will not sacrifice basic principles” in pursuing steps that can promote our common security.
In fact, he described diplomacy as “the best way for all parties, in our view.”
We have not confirmed that Russian troops have withdrawn
Regarding the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Russian border, the US President noted that “the US has not yet verified” that Russia has begun withdrawing some troops after the completion of recent exercises near Ukraine, warning that “the invasion remains clear. possible “.
“The Russian Defense Minister said today that some military units are leaving their positions near Ukraine. “That would be good, but we have not verified it yet,” he said.
“We have not yet verified that the Russian military units are returning to their bases – indeed, our analysts indicate that they remain in a very threatening position, and the fact that there are currently more than 150,000 troops in areas around Ukraine and Belarus and along the borders of Ukraine and the invasion remains clearly possible “.
In his speech, Biden again called on American citizens in the region to leave “before it is too late to leave safely,” noting the decision to move the US Embassy in Kiev to the western city of Lviv.
Overwhelming international condemnation in case of Russian invasion
At the same time, he warned that if Russia invades Ukraine in the coming days or weeks “it will be faced with overwhelming international condemnation.”
“Accountability matters. If Russia invades in the coming days and weeks, the human cost to Ukraine will be enormous. And the strategic cost to Russia will also be huge. If Russia attacks Ukraine, it will face overwhelming international condemnation. “People will not forget that Russia chose unnecessary death and destruction,” he said.
Biden to Russian citizens: “You are not our enemy”
Joe Biden has made it clear that the United States does not seek to increase instability.
“Let me be equally clear about what we are not doing: the United States and NATO are not a threat to Russia,” he said.
“Ukraine does not threaten Russia. Neither the US nor NATO has missiles in Ukraine. We do not have, we have no plans to put them there. We do not target the Russian people. We do not seek to destabilize Russia. You are not our enemy. “I think you want a bloody, destructive war against Ukraine.”
He referred to Russia-US co-operation during World War II, which he called a “war of necessity”.
“If Russia attacks Ukraine, it will be a war of choice or a war for no reason. I say this not to provoke, but to tell the truth, because the truth matters. “Accountability is important,” he said.
“If Russia invades in the coming days and weeks, the human cost to Ukraine will be enormous,” he added.
Sanctions: If Russia attacks Ukraine, it will not become Nord Stream 2
At the same time, it announced severe sanctions “which we did not impose when Russia invaded Crimea in 2014.”
He added that “we will put intense pressure on the largest and most important economic institutions. These sanctions are ready to be implemented as soon as Russia attacks. “There will be long-term consequences to prevent Russia’s economic and strategic expansion.”
As for Nord Stream 2, the pipeline that will transport gas from Russia to Germany, Biden threatened that if Russia attacks Ukraine, it will not happen.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News
and be the first to know all the news
