“AMERICA HAS NO PLAN TO FIGHT RUSSIA”, SAID PRESIDENT BIDEN.

 “WE WILL NOT FIGHT THE THIRD WORLD WAR IN UKRAINE”, BIDEN.

by Juliegrace Brufke, Congressional Reporter  | March 11, 2022 02:53 PM

PHILADELPHIA — President Joe Biden vowed to continue to aid Ukraine but asserted that there are no plans to fight Russia, arguing it would spark World War III, during a speech at House Democrats’ retreat in Philadelphia on Friday.

Biden, whose comments came shortly after he called to cease normal trade relations with Russia following President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade, told the room that he has been speaking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky almost daily as the West looks to help Ukraine push back against the unprovoked military aggression.

“We’re going to make sure that Ukraine has the weapons to defend themselves from invading Russian force. And, and we will send money and food aid to save Ukrainian lives. We’re going to welcome Ukrainian refugees with open arms, if in fact, they come all the way here,” he said, which was met with applause in the room.

“As we provide the support to Ukraine, we’re going continue to stand together with our allies in Europe and send an unmistakable message that we will defend every inch of NATO territory, every single inch, with a united, galvanized NATO,” Biden said in Pennsylvania.

Biden highlighted his decision to send 12,000 U.S. troops to NATO countries near Russia and Ukraine in a strategic show of force to deter potential aggression against NATO member states, but he stressed that direct military involvement in the war is currently off the table.

“One movement. That’s why I’ve moved over 12,000 American forces along the borders with Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania, etc.," Biden said. "Granted, if we respond, it is World War III. But we have a sacred obligation on NATO territory, a sacred obligation, Article Five. And we will not, although we will not fight the third world war in Ukraine. Putin’s war against Ukraine must never be a victory.”

Biden touted that the United States and its allies enacting sanctions against Russia’s oil industry has had a strong impact on weakening Russia’s economy in a move to further isolate the country from resources amid its continued efforts to take control of Kyiv.

Biden said allies plan to increase their efforts to seize the assets of Russian oligarchs to ramp up pressure on the country to end the attacks.

“We’re increasing coordination among the G-7 countries and to target, capture the ill-begotten gains, the yachts," Biden said. "You see some of these yachts, 450 feet long. No, I'm serious. Hundreds of millions of dollars in value. Their luxury apartments. The totality of our economic sanctions and export controls are crushing, crushing Russian economy.”

The president went on to cast blame on Putin for inflation and the rising price of gas in the U.S., an argument that has been met with sharp criticism from Republicans who have called for the administration to greenlight domestic oil production. Biden dismissed the criticisms, arguing that reauthorizing the Keystone XL pipeline would not provide immediate relief, as the project would be years off from being able to go into effect.

“From the moment he [Putin] put his over 150,000 troops on the Ukrainian border, the price of gasoline in January went up 75 cents," he said. "And Putin began amassing troops along the border, and guess what? The world took notice. And those of you that have worked in the business know that the market anticipated, prices went up more.”