‘US Will Respond To Russian Attack On Ukraine’
Washington, Feb 16: The US is prepared to respond decisively if Russia decides to invade Ukraine, said President Joe Biden, adding that an invasion remains distinctly possible. Speaking at a press conference at the White House on Tuesday, Biden said, “We are ready with diplomacy — to be engaged 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 a Russian attack on Ukraine, which is still very much a possibility.” The President also made an appeal to continue diplomacy to resolve the tension at Ukraine border and said their is “plenty of room for diplomacy and for de-escalation”. He further said, “I spoke again with President Putin to make clear that we are ready to keep pursuing high-level diplomacy to reach written understandings among Russia, the United States, and the nations of Europe to address legitimate security concerns if that’s what — his wish. Their security concerns and ours.”
The President pointed out that both leaders have agreed to continue to engage toward this end along with the European Allies and partners. “The Russian government publicly proposed to continue the diplomacy. I agree. We should give the diplomacy every chance to succeed. I believe there are real ways to address our respective security concerns,” he said. The President said the US is “proposing new arms control measures, new transparency measures (and) new strategic stability measures,” adding that “these measures apply to all parties — NATO and Russia alike.” “We’re willing to make practical, result-oriented steps that can advance our common security,” he continued.
“We will not sacrifice basic principles, though. Nations have a right to sovereignty and territorial integrity. They have the freedom to set their own course and choose with whom they will associate. But that still leaves plenty of room for diplomacy and for de-escalation. That’s the best way forward for all parties in our view.” Despite posing hope on path forward through diplomacy, Biden said, “We have not yet verified that Russian military units are returning to their home bases. Indeed, our analysts indicate that they remain very much in a threatening position. And the fact remains: Right now, Russia has more than 150,000 troops encircling Ukraine in Belarus and along Ukraine’s border. “An invasion remains distinctly possible,” he added. Earlier on Tuesday, Russian Defence Ministry had announced that some of its troops would be returning to their bases after completing their drill.
