US President Joe Biden has warned Vladimir Putin that Western nations are “not going to be intimidated” by the Russian President.
Mr Putin pledged to use “all means” to defend four new territories that he declared part of Russia during a speech and concert in Moscow on Friday.
But Mr Biden denounced Russia’s “fraudulent attempt today to annex sovereign Ukrainian territory”.
He said his administration would support any effort by Ukraine to retake the annexed territories by force, setting the stage for further hostilities
“America and its allies are not going to be intimidated by Putin and his reckless words and threats,” Mr Biden told reporters.
He added that Putin “can’t seize his neighbor’s territory and get away with it.”
“America is fully prepared, prepared with our NATO allies to defend every single inch of NATO territory. Every single inch,” he said. “And so, Mr. Putin, don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. Every inch.”
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken, echoing Biden, said the US “unequivocally rejects Russia’s fraudulent attempt to change Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders. ... This is a clear violation of international law and the United Nations Charter.”
“No one is fooled by what Moscow has done,” Blinken told reporters at a joint news conference with Canada’s visiting foreign minister.
“The entire process around these sham referenda was a complete farce. This territory is and will remain Ukraine, and Ukraine has every right to defend its land, to defend its people and to take back the territory that Russia has seized from it.”
This suggests the US will support the Ukrainians with weapons and ammunition to help them with military action to retake the annexed areas.
