Biden warns of 'severe consequences' if Putin moves on Ukraine
ABC News
President Joe Biden made his first comments on his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying Russia will face "severe consequences" if it invades Ukraine.
Reacting for the first time to his video call with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week over Kremlin aggression along the Ukrainian border, President Joe Biden said he was “very straightforward,” and that if Putin decides to invade Ukraine, he would face economic consequences “like nothing he’s ever seen.”
“There were no minced words. It was polite, but I made it very clear: If in fact, he invades Ukraine, there'll be severe consequences,” Biden told reporters Wednesday morning as he was leaving the White House.
Tuesday’s two-hour virtual meeting between the leaders was their first known interaction since a phone call in July and Biden said “I am absolutely confident he [Putin] got the message.”
The White House earlier said Biden warned Putin that the U.S. "would respond with strong economic and other measures in the event of military escalation," as Russia builds up its forces on its border with Ukraine.
