Vice President Kamala Harris took to the morning show circuit Thursday to clean up remarks made by President Joe Biden a day earlier that appeared to suggest that a “minor” attack by Russia on Ukraine could elicit a lesser U.S. response.
What You Need To Know
- Vice President Kamala Harris took to the morning show circuit Thursday to clean up remarks made by President Joe Biden a day earlier that appeared to suggest that a “minor” attack by Russia on Ukraine could elicit a lesser U.S. response
- In discussing a lack of consensus among NATO members, Biden raised eyebrows when he said a “minor incursion” might result in “a fight about what to do and not do” in response.
- The president later sought to clarify that he was referring to a non-military action, such as a cyberattack — but the remark elicited a barrage of criticism at home that he was not being tough enough on Russia and raised the specter of possible divisions abroad
- Harris reiterated that Biden is committed to taking serious action and that he’s been consistent and clear about that in talks with allies and Russia all along
“What I can tell you is that the president has been very clear that if Russia takes aggressive action, it will be met with serious, severe and a unified response and consequences,” Harris told ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
During a news conference Thursday, Biden predicted that Russia, which has amassed 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border, will invade Ukraine. Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that his country would pay a “dear price” in lives lost and a possible cutoff from the global banking system if it does. But in discussing a lack of consensus among NATO members, Biden raised eyebrows when he said a “minor incursion” might result in “a fight about what to do and not do” in response.
The president later sought to clarify that he was referring to a non-military action, such as a cyberattack — but the remark elicited a barrage of criticism at home that he was not being tough enough on Russia and raised the specter of possible divisions abroad.
Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said Biden effectively “gave Putin a green light to invade Ukraine by yammering about the supposed insignificance of a ‘minor incursion.’”
“He projected weakness, not strength,” Sasse said.
In an interview with NBC’s “Today” show, Harris was asked if there was any amount of land Russia could take that would result in Biden not seeking the most severe sanctions he’s threatened.
“Our interpretation of any country — in this case Russia and Vladimir Putin — denying or violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine will be interpreted as aggressive action, and it will be met with a severe cost. Period,” the vice president said.
About an hour after Biden’s news conference, the White House was already in damage control, issuing a statement that, too, stressed if Russian military forces move across the Ukrainian border “it will be met with swift, severe, and united response from the United States and our Allies.”
“Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, however, asked Harris if the statement was enough.
“Is Vladimir Putin likely to listen to a later statement from the White House press secretary or the words of President Biden?” Guthrie asked.
Harris reiterated that Biden is committed to taking serious action and that he’s been consistent and clear about that in talks with allies and Russia all along.
“I’m vice president of the United States, and the president and I work closely together,” she said. “And I know his position because he has been consistent in that regard.”
If Russia invades, Biden said, one action under consideration was limiting Russian transactions in U.S. financial institutions, including “anything that involves dollar denominations.” Biden was referring to potentially limiting Russia’s access to “dollar clearing” — the conversion of payments by banks on behalf of clients into U.S. dollars from rubles or other foreign currency, according to a senior administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly.
“He’s never seen sanctions like the ones I promised will be imposed if he moves, No. 1,” Biden warned. “This is not all just a cake walk for Russia,” Biden said. “They’ll pay a stiff price immediately” and in the medium and long term “if they do it.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva on Friday. On Wednesday, Blinken met with Ukraine’s president in Kyiv and he heads to Berlin on Thursday for talks with allies.
Biden reiterated Wednesday that he did not think that Putin has made a final decision on whether to invade, but speculated “my guess is he will move in.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
