President Joe Biden didn’t mince words when discussing Russian President Vladimir Putin during a recent interview, issuing a scathing critique of Putin’s leadership while defending his decision to grant Ukraine permission to conduct limited strikes within Russia using US weapons.
“I’ve known [Putin] for over 40 years — he’s concerned me for 40 years,” Biden asserted in an interview with ABC News’ David Muir. “He’s not a decent man — he’s a dictator, and he’s struggling to make sure he holds his country together while still keeping this assault going.”
Biden’s remarks, while forceful, raised eyebrows with his suggestion of a longer history with Putin than might be accurate, given Putin’s tenure as a KGB agent in East Germany 40 years ago. However, the president’s focus remained on the urgency of the situation and the need to address ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine.
The decision to relax restrictions on the use of US weapons in Ukraine came in response to Russia’s significant advances around the northeastern city of Kharkiv, near the Russian border. While a departure from previous policy, this authorization is specifically limited to the area surrounding Kharkiv, with no plans to extend permission further, according to a US official.
Putin’s warnings against Western countries supplying weapons to Ukraine underscored the escalating tensions surrounding the conflict. The Russian president cautioned that such actions could result in Moscow providing support to Ukraine’s adversaries, heightening the risk of further escalation.
In response, Biden clarified that the authorization for strikes with US weaponry is confined to areas near the border and does not extend to targets deep within Russia. This distinction aims to mitigate concerns about the conflict spiraling out of control while allowing Ukraine to defend itself against Russian aggression.
