Biden clarifies that any Russian incursion into Ukraine will be considered an invasion

the president of EE.UU., Joe Biden, He clarified that any type of Russian incursion into Ukrainian territory will be considered “an invasion” and will have a “severe response”, after the confusion it generated by insinuating that Washington would qualify the consequences in the face of a smaller-scale occupation.

Speaking to the press from the White House, Biden assured that there is “no misunderstanding” and that “if any Russian unit crosses the border with Ukraine, that is an invasion.”

If that happens, he warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that “he will meet a severe and coordinated economic response” from the United States, the European Union (EU) and the OTAN.

“No doubt. Let there be no doubt that if Putin makes this decision, Russia will pay a high price,” the president reiterated.

The day before, during a press conference on the occasion of his first anniversary at the White House, Biden generated confusion about the Ukrainian crisis by suggesting that the West’s response might not be so harsh if Moscow opts for some measure that does not involve a large-scale invasion.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki was later forced to clarify in a statement that “if any Russian military force crosses the border with Ukraine,” Washington will consider it “a new invasion” and impose “swift and severe” retaliation from Russia. in coordination with its European allies.

Despite the rectification, the president of Ukraine, Volodímir Zelensky, responded to Biden on Thursday that “there are no minor incursions.”

In parallel, the US Treasury Department announced Thursday sanctions against four Ukrainians, including two members of the country’s parliament, accused of being involved in activities to “destabilize” Ukraine “under the direction” of Russian intelligence services.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who traveled to Ukraine this week to show his support, is scheduled to meet on Friday in Geneva, Switzerland, with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

The objective of the meeting is to lower the high tension that exists around Ukraine, due to the strong fear of the West that Russia will invade that country at any moment.

The Kremlin has denied over and over again that it has planned such an invasion, but the significant presence of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border, with some 100,000 troops, and the new military maneuvers announced by Moscow for the coming weeks have increased the nervousness of the United States. and NATO.