President Joe Biden on Tuesday appealed directly to the Russian people in a speech on the Ukraine crisis, while underscoring that the US is prepared to handle the Russian government's actions concerning Ukraine "no matter what happens," Insider reports.
Biden insisted that the US is not seeking conflict with Russia and pushed against the notion that the West is to blame for the tensions over Ukraine.
"The United States and NATO are not a threat to Russia. Ukraine is not threatening Russia. Neither the US nor NATO have missiles in Ukraine. We do not have plans to put them there," Biden said.
"To the citizens of Russia: You are not our enemy, and I do not believe you want a bloody, destructive war against Ukraine - a country and people with whom you share such deep ties of family history and culture," the president added.
Biden also mentioned that Americans and Russians fought on the same side during World War II.
"77 years ago, our people fought and sacrificed side-by-side to end the worst war in history," Biden said. "World War II was a war of necessity. But if Russia attacks Ukraine, it would be a war of choice."
Biden in his remarks also reiterated that he would not send troops into Ukraine if Russia invades, stating the US is "not seeking direct confrontation with Russia." But he warned Moscow that the US would "respond forcefully" if Russia attacks or targets Americans in Ukraine, while once again urging any US citizens in the country to leave as soon as possible.
The US administration has no plans to send its troops to Ukraine if a military conflict breaks out there, but Washington will remain committed to NATO's collective defense principle, US President Joe Biden said in the White House.
"While I will not send American servicemen to fight Russia in Ukraine, we have supplied the Ukrainian military with equipment to help them defend themselves. We have provided training and advice and intelligence for the same purpose," he said. "And make no mistake: The United States will defend every inch of NATO territory. An attack against one NATO country is an attack against all of us."
The United States is ready to engage in diplomatic contacts with Moscow, but will respond resolutely to a purported Russian aggression against Ukraine, US President Joe Biden said in the White House.
"The United States is prepared no matter what happens. We are ready to be engaged in diplomacy with Russia to improve stability and security in Europe as a whole," he said. "And we are ready to respond decisively to a Russian attack on Ukraine, which is still very much a possibility."
