US President Joe Biden said on Thursday he had made it clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin that any Russian move into Ukraine would be considered an invasion, after suggesting that allies were divided on how to react to any “small incursion”.
“I was absolutely clear with President Putin, he didn’t get it wrong. If any mounted Russian unit crosses the Ukrainian border, that is an invasion,” Biden told reporters at the White House.
The US leader said such an invasion would be met by a “stern and coordinated response, an economic response discussed in detail with our allies, as clearly set out with President Putin”.
He added: “But there is no doubt that if Putin makes that choice, Russia will pay a heavy price.”
Russia has concentrated tens of thousands of troops on its borders with Ukraine, and Western countries fear that Moscow is planning a new attack on the country it invaded in 2014. Russia denies these speculations.
Biden said Washington is monitoring all possible scenarios.
“Russia has a long history of using measures other than military action to carry out aggression. Paramilitary tactics, so-called gray zone attacks and action by Russian soldiers not wearing Russian uniforms.”
The US president also claimed that other possible covert actions by Moscow include cyber attacks, as well as what he called the deployment of “little green men in uniform”.
“We have to be ready to respond to that as well in a decisive and united way with the range of tools at our disposal,” added Biden.
Reference: CNN Brasil
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