Headline Roundup • February 18th, 2022
Biden 'Convinced' Putin Has Decided to Invade Ukraine
Summary from the AllSides News Team
President Joe Biden told reporters on Friday that he was "convinced" Russian President Vladimir Putin had decided to invade Ukraine.
"As of this moment, I am convinced he's made the decision. We have reason to believe that," Biden said. When a reporter later asked him if he said he was convinced Russia would invade, Biden replied, "Yes, I did." Biden added that until Russia actually invaded, "diplomacy is always a possibility." As of Friday, Russia had reportedly amassed as many as 190,000 troops around Ukraine in Russia, Belarus and occupied Crimea.
Biden's remarks made top headlines across the spectrum Friday evening.
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Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
President Joe Biden spoke to the nation Friday on the crisis with Russia over Ukraine, amid increased shelling in eastern Ukraine and possible false-flag attacks he said Russia could use to falsely justify an invasion.
Answering questions afterward, he appeared to go further than he has before about what Russian President Vladimir Putin might do, saying, "As of this moment, I am convinced he has made the decision" to invade.
AFP via Getty Images
President Biden told Americans Friday that he was “convinced” Russian President Vladimir Putin had decided to invade Ukraine — and warned of a massive military operation that could target the Eastern European country’s capital, Kyiv.
“We have reason to believe that Russian forces are planning to — intending to attack Ukraine in the coming week — in the coming days,” Biden said in remarks from the White House Roosevelt Room. “We believe that they will target Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, a city of 2.8 million innocent people.”
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENCY / HANDOUT / ANADOLU AGENCY VIA GETTY IMAGES
President Joe Biden said Friday that he is convinced Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine.
"As of this moment, I am convinced he has made the decision. We have reason to believe that," Biden said at the White House. “We believe that they will target Ukraine’s capital Kyiv.” The president cited U.S. intelligence but providing no details to support his assertion. Biden said diplomacy remains open to prevent war until Putin actually begins an attack.
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