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On the international news front, U.S. President Joe Biden predicted today that Russia is likely to invade Ukraine.
This comes as Russia amassed 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border.
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JOE BIDEN, U.S. President: Russia will be held accountable if it invades, and it depends on what it does. It's one thing if it's a minor incursion and then we end up having a fight about what to do and not do. But I think he'll pay a serious and dear price for it.
Biden's argument that Russia is apt to invade Ukraine is predicated upon the scene of 100,000 troops armed to the teeth near the Ukrainian border.
Biden did elucidate that a minor incursion would elicit a lesser response. One that's believed to be of little consequence, like a cyberattack. What's more, he urged Putin not to rock the boat by killing Ukrainian fighters, suggesting that Putin should factor the ramifications of an invasion into his decision.
Ensuring Russia's plan to invade Ukraine comes to nothing is one thing, but knowing the challenge of keeping the United States and its NATO allies on the same page, speaks volumes. In that press conference, Biden admitted, keeping everyone in NATO on the same page is an unenviable task, yet of the essence.
The "minor incursion" remark prompted a barrage of criticism from senators today, with some saying it's the wrong way to view the threat.
U.S. President Joe Biden has made it clear to the Russian leader that Russia would face debilitating sanctions, provided that Russia invades Ukraine.
Meantime, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Kiev this week to meet with Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, in a hastily arranged diplomatic mission that signals the urgency of the impending crisis. Blinken also reiterated the U.S.' demands that Russia de-escalate tensions and refrain from taking any provocative steps, saying America will continue to support Ukraine in its fight for democracy, come what may.
Having said that, the U.S. and its allies could get lost in the morass of negotiations and explanations as Biden continues to extort a confession from Putin.
With that, negotiations could sunder anytime.
Suffice it to say, it's a bitter pill to swallow for countries embroiled in this crisis as they are sparing no effort to pursue entente cordiale and a dialogue.
Without a shadow of doubt, Biden's remarks today appear to presage an ineluctable corollary of a Russian invasion that when it comes time, Washington will respond swiftly without any ado.
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