EXCLUSIVE TRANSLATION: White House spokeswoman Karen-Jean-Pierre said the United States “welcomes” any Russian national seeking asylum in this country after fleeing the military conscription of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Jean-Pierre made the remarks during a White House news conference, even as tens of thousands of Russian citizens flocked to neighboring Eastern European countries. A reporter pressed Jean-Pierre about reports of draft-age men fleeing across the border or even cutting themselves to avoid draft. Fox News reported.
“I know the White House has made a distinction between the Russian government and the Russian people. Does the president have a message for some of these men desperately trying to flee the country?” A reporter asked.
“We are seeing protests in the streets of Russia, we see people signing petitions, and I think the message they are sending us very clearly is that this war that Putin started … is unpopular,” said Jean-Pierre. There are people in Russia who don’t want to fight Putin’s war or die for it.”