US President Joe Biden had a tense exchange with a British journalist on Thursday during a key meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House. The reporter had pressed US President Joe Biden about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent warning that Russia would be at war with the US and its NATO allies if Ukraine were allowed to use long-range Western missiles.
When the Sky News correspondent asked about US President Joe Biden’s response to Vladimir Putin’s threat, the 81-year-old president retorted, “I say you be quiet until I speak. Okay? That’s what I say. Good idea?” The reporter persisted with the question, prompting US President Joe Biden to snap again, saying, “You have got to be quiet. I am going to make a statement here, okay?”
Later, as the meeting ended, the reporter again asked US President Joe Biden for his thoughts on Vladimir Putin. US President Joe Biden replied dismissively, “I don’t think much about Vladimir Putin.” The president emphasized that the US remains steadfast in its support of Ukraine, despite the Kremlin’s continued threats. During the meeting with Starmer, US President Joe Biden affirmed that Russia would not succeed in its war against Ukraine. He stated, “The US is committed to standing with you to help Ukraine as it defends against Russia’s onslaught of aggression. It’s clear that Putin will not prevail in this war.”
The US has provided Ukraine with over $55.7 billion in military assistance since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Despite Vladimir Putin’s warnings, the US President Joe Biden administration continues to back Ukraine’s defense efforts, although it has been cautious about lifting restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range Western missiles for strikes inside Russian territory. Earlier in the week, President Vladimir Putin had issued his latest threat, cautioning that if NATO and the US allowed Ukraine to use long-range weapons to strike deep within Russia, it would escalate the conflict to direct warfare between Russia and the West.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during his recent visit to Kyiv, hinted at the possibility of reconsidering the restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles. However, the White House quickly dismissed speculation that it was planning to change its policy. In a statement, the administration said, “There is no change to our view on the provision of long-range strike capabilities for Ukraine to use inside of Russia,” while also calling Vladimir Putin’s rhetoric “incredibly dangerous.”
This incident underscores the high-stakes tension surrounding the conflict and the international community’s ongoing efforts to manage it.
