US will respond decisively if Russia invades Ukraine | World | DW

The White House told US President Joe Biden on Sunday (02.01.2022) that Washington and its allies would “decisively retaliate” if Russia invaded its pro-Western neighbor.

Reporting on the phone conversation between the two, White House spokesman Zhen Zaki said Biden had expressed support for diplomatic efforts, including high-level talks between Russian and US officials scheduled for January 9-10 in Geneva.

“President Biden has made it clear that the United States and its allies and partners will respond decisively if Russia invades Ukraine,” Psaki said in a statement.

Biden further reaffirmed “the reaffirmation of the United States’ commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The US-backed show in Ukraine comes just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Biden that Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor could have dire consequences.

Ukraine appreciates US support.

Washington and its European allies accuse Russia of threatening Ukraine with a new invasion.

About 100,000 Russian troops are concentrated near the country’s border, where Putin has already occupied Crimea in 2014, and has been accused of fomenting pro-Russian separatist war that erupted in the east the same year.

Although Ukraine has not been invited to join the military alliance, Moscow describes the presence of troops as a defense against NATO expansion.

For its part, Ukraine appreciates the “unwavering support” of the United States, President Volodymyr Zhelensky said during a tense meeting with US President Joe Biden on Sunday.

“We appreciate the unwavering support for Ukraine,” Zhelensky said on Twitter, explaining that he had spoken with Python about “joint efforts by Ukraine, the United States and other allies to maintain peace in Europe and prevent escalation.” It was time for him to fear a Russian invasion of this neighboring country.

mg (afp, Reuters)