US President Joe Biden said on Friday that the United States and its allies would not be “intimidated” by Russian President Vladimir Putin, promising that NATO would defend “every inch” of its territory.
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“America and its allies will not be intimidated” and Vladimir Putin “will not scare us,” he said during a speech at the White House.
Joe Biden then addressed the Russian president directly, pointing his finger at the camera warning him against any attack from NATO territory.
“America and its allies are fully prepared to defend every inch of NATO territory,” he said.
“Mr. Putin, understand what I am saying: every centimeter.”
The American president was speaking shortly after Mr. Putin formalized the annexation of four Ukrainian territories, who promised victory to his country during a festive concert in Red Square, Moscow.
The Russian President and other country officials have repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons to defend newly incorporated Ukrainian territories.
Joe Biden called Friday’s ceremony a “bogus number” supposed to show his strength, illustrating on the contrary according to him “that he was in trouble”.
Referring to new aid of 12 billion dollars to Ukraine voted in the American Congress, the president promised to “continue to provide military equipment” to the country “so that it can defend itself”.
Joe Biden also promised to send underwater assets to the site of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipeline explosions, “to determine what exactly happened”, after what he called an “act of deliberate sabotage”.
“We will work with our allies to shed light on this,” assured Mr. Biden. “I have already started to help our allies strengthen the protection of this crucial infrastructure,” he added.