Biden warns Russia to 'pay a heavy price' if Putin launches an invasion of Ukraine - Live, Biden comments Ukraine Joe Biden has sought to clarify his comments about a Possible Russian attack on Ukraine since yesterday after the US president downplayed the risk of a "small intervention" in Ukraine.
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| Biden warns Russia to 'pay a heavy price |
Earlier in the day, Biden told reporters at the start of a meeting on infrastructure, "I've been very clear with President Putin. There's nothing wrong with that.
Biden said such an attack would be accompanied by a "serious, coordinated economic response," which he "discussed in detail with our allies and described very clearly to President Putin."
But there is no doubt that Russia will have to pay a heavy price if Putin makes this choice," he added.
Biden's comments came a day after he explained how NATO is at loggerheads over its response to Russian aggression, depending on what type of attack it has launched on Ukraine.
"I think what you'll see is that Russia will take responsibility if they attack," Biden said at a news conference yesterday.
"And it depends on what he's doing. It's something if it's a little intrusion and then we end up fighting about what to do and what not to do, etc."
The statements required a concerted effort by Biden administration officials, including Kamala Harris and Jane Psaki, the White House press secretary, to make clear that the United States and its allies are united in their response to Russian aggression.
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When he finished his daily press conference, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked if Joe Biden plans to hold more press conferences in the future.
Saki replied, "Stay with me." "Fasten your seatbelts, and next time bring snacks."
Biden's press conference lasted about two hours yesterday after the president decided to extend the event by calling journalists who were not on the original list given to him by his staff.
After about an hour and a half of questioning, Biden looked at his watch and decided to speak for another 20 minutes—perhaps due to the annoyance of his press staff.
A reporter asked Jen Psaki for further clarification on Joe Biden's comments about a possible "small intervention" by Russia in Ukraine.
This morning, the president said, "I was very clear with President Putin. He has no misunderstandings. If any united Russian unit moves across the Ukrainian border, it is aggression."
Psaki said Biden raised the issue yesterday that the United States and its allies have "a lot of tools" to respond to Russian aggression, which could take the form of paramilitary tactics such as cyber-attacks.
Press Secretary Biden was also quoted as saying that "there is a difference between NATO and what countries are willing to do, depending on what happens."
"We are focused on ensuring that we remain united with NATO," Psaki said. "Union now doesn't mean that everything will be the same, does it? It means that we are united in taking action if they decide to attack. And we are united."
