Joe Biden fears Putin does not have exit strategy from Ukraine conflict

The US President also said the invasion had brought the US and its European allies closer together
AP
Sami Quadri10 May 2022

Joe Biden has admitted he fears Vladimir Putin does not have a feasible exit strategy from the Ukrainian invasion.

The US president described the Russian leader as “a very calculating man” who mistakenly believed the war would divide Nato and the European Union.

But he insisted the invasion had instead brought the US and its European allies closer together.

Mr Biden admitted he is “trying to figure out what we do about” Mr Putin’s apparent lack of an exit plan.

It comes as the US Congress is poised to unleash billions more to fight the war against Russia — with Democrats preparing $40 billion (£32 billion) in military and humanitarian aid.

It all serves as a rejoinder to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has seized on Victory in Europe Day — the anniversary of Germany’s unconditional surrender in 1945 and Russia’s biggest patriotic holiday — to rally his people behind the invasion.

“This aid has been critical to Ukraine’s success on the battlefield,” Mr Biden said in a statement.

He said it was urgent that Congress approve the next Ukraine assistance package to avoid any interruption in military supplies being sent to help fight the war, with a crucial deadline coming in 10 days.

“We cannot allow our shipments of assistance to stop while we await further Congressional action,” he said. He urged Congress to act — and “to do so quickly.”

“While President Putin and the Russian people celebrated Victory Day today, we’re seeing Russian forces commit war crimes and atrocities in Ukraine, as they engage in a brutal war that is causing so much suffering and needless destruction,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

She said Putin was “perverting” history to attempt to “justify his unprovoked and unjustified war.”

Republicans in Congress are resisting spending more money at home as the pandemic crisis shifts to a new phase, and Mr Biden did not want to delay money for Ukraine by trying to debate the issue further.

“We cannot afford delay in this vital war effort,” he said. “Hence, I am prepared to accept that these two measures move separately, so that the Ukrainian aid bill can get to my desk right away.”

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