Putin Threatens “Consequences You Have Never Seen” For Those Who Interfere

Russian forces invaded Ukraine Thursday by land, air, and sea in the largest military attack of one state against another on the European continent since the Second World War. 

“Putin is the aggressor,” Biden said. “Putin chose this war. And now, he and his country will bear the consequence.”

Biden said he believes Russia has “much larger ambitions than Ukraine. He wants to, in fact, reestablish the former Soviet Union.”

“America stands up to bullies,” Biden declared. “We stand up for freedom. This is who we are.”

“Liberty, democracy, human dignity – these are the forces far more powerful than fear and oppression,” he added. “Make no mistake, freedom will prevail.”

Thursday morning before speaking with G7 leaders, Biden said our allies are “in full and total agreement.”

The U.S. and partners are also going after the Russian military and Belarusian individuals and entities for their support of the invasion.

Meanwhile, Biden maintained that the United States will “defend every inch of NATO territory with the full force of American power.”

“Let me say it again—our forces are not and will not be engaged in the conflict with Russia in Ukraine,” Biden said. “Our forces are not going to Europe to fight in Ukraine, but to defend our NATO allies and reassure those allies in the East.”

“There is no doubt, no doubt, that the United States and every NATO ally will meet our Article IV commitments, which says, an attack on one is an attack on all,” Biden said.

The Pentagon said there are 7,000 U.S. service members authorized to go to Germany. Last month, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin placed 8,500 U.S. troops on heightened preparedness.

Biden said he spoke with Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley about “preparations for additional moves should they become necessary to protect our NATO allies and support the greatest military alliance in the history of the world, NATO.” 

“This is a dangerous moment for all of Europe, for the freedom around the world,” Biden said. “Putin has a committed assault on the very principles that uphold the global peace. Now the entire world sees clearly what Putin and his Kremlin allies are really all about.” 

Reporters pressed BidenThursday on why his administration has not yet imposed sanctions directly on Putin, but the president did not answer. 

Biden did say he has no plans to meet with Putin. 

A senior U.S. defense official said Thursday that Russia’s attack is “just the initial phase,” and that they expect the Russian military activity to “unfold in multiple phases.” 

“They have every intention of decapitating the government and installing their own government,” the official said. 

Russia launched more than 100 ballistic missiles into Ukraine overnight, including short-range ballistic missiles, medium-range ballistic missiles, cruise and Surface to Air. 

The official said Pentagon officials “haven’t seen something on this scale” since World War II, saying officials anticipate that it will be “very bloody, very impactful” and continue “for a long, long time to come.” 

“This is a war of choice,” he added. 

When Putin announced Wednesday night that he had made the decision to move ahead with Russian military operations in Ukraine, he said that Moscow’s “analysis” had concluded that “confrontation with these Ukrainian forces” was “inevitable.”

Putin also threatened the west and countries that interfere with Ukraine with “consequences you have never seen.”

“A couple of words for those who would be tempted to intervene,” Putin said Wednesday night. “Russia will respond immediately and you will have consequences that you never have had before in your history.”

In a reminder of Russia’s nuclear power, Putin said “no one should have any doubts that a direct attack on our country will lead to the destruction and horrible consequences for any potential aggressor.”