The White House and Pentagon suggested Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin was bluffing after Russia announced a drawdown of troops near the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
‘I think we should be clear eyed about the reality of what’s happening on the ground and no one should be fooled by Russia’s announcements,’ said White House communications director Kate Bedingfield, standing in for press secretary Jen Psaki and deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who both tested positive for COVID-19.
‘We believe any movement of forces around here is a redeployment and not a withdrawal, and the world should be prepared for a major offensive against other areas of Ukraine,’ Bedingfield added.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby sang a similar tune saying Tuesday, ‘We ought not be fooling – and nobody should be fooling ourselves by the Kremlin’s now recent claim that it will suddenly reduce military attacks near Kyiv or any reports that it’s going to withdraw all of its forces.’
Earlier, President Joe Biden asserted a wait-and-see approach when asked about Russia’s announcement during a ‘press statement’ alongside Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
White House Director of Communications Kate Bedingfield said ‘nobody should be fooled by Russia’s announcement’ as she subbed in at Tuesday’s press briefing for press secretary Jen Psaki and her deputy Karine Jean-Pierre, who are both out with COVID-19
The Pentagon was also skeptical of Russia’s announcement that there would be a drawdown of forces near Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin is photographed in Moscow last week
Ukrainians wait to board a train as they leave the western parts of the country Tuesday, amid Russian President Vladimir Putin’s assault on their country
‘We’ll see, I don’t read anything into it until I see what their actions are. We’ll see if they follow through with what they’re suggesting,’ Biden answered.
He noted that negotiations were continuing throughout Tuesday, as he spoke with European leaders, including U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi earlier in the morning.
‘There seems to be a consensus that – let’s just see what they have to offer,’ Biden said. ‘We’ll find out what they do, but in the meantime we’re going to continue to keep strong the sanctions, we’re going to continue to provide the Ukrainian military with their capacity to defend themselves, and we’re going to continue to keep a close eye on what’s going on.’
Biden’s comments to the press came one day after he tried to explain what he meant when he said Saturday in Warsaw that Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘cannot remain in power.’
That Q&A session led to more head-scratching, as Biden said he was expressing his ‘moral outrage’ when he made the unscripted remark, but clarified he wasn’t calling on regime change.
President Joe Biden took one question from a reporter during a ‘press statement’ he made alongside Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (left) and President Joe Biden (right) participated in a press statement event Tuesday afternoon at the White House
Reporters pointed out that Biden’s comments could inadvertently be used by Russia to justify further escalation.
‘Nobody believes I was talkinga bout taking down Putin … nobody believes that,’ Biden answered Monday. ‘I was expressing my outrage at the behavior of this man.’
Biden kept his appearance alongside Lee Tuesday in the Oval Office short and scripted, keeping a notecard balanced on his lap.
‘The rules-based order is facing unprecedented challenges,’ Biden said, seated alongside the Singaporean leader. ‘Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable war against Ukraine is an urgent threat to both Europe and I believe the Indo-Pacific as well.’
Biden noted that ‘borders can’t be changed by force’ and said every nation, large and small, had the ‘rights to their sovereignty.’
‘I want to thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, for Singapore’s principled leadership in supporting the people of Ukraine,’ the American president continued. ‘I know it’s not easy, but I want to thank you for it. You’re a man of principle and you’ve stepped up every time that you’ve had to.’
Singapore stands out in the region by joining the United States and Western allies in sanctioning Russia for its actions against Ukraine.
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (left) meets with President Joe Biden (right) Tuesday in the Oval Office
President Joe Biden (pictured) entertains Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on an unseasonably cold day in March
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore speaks at the top of his meeting with President Joe Biden Tuesday in the Oval Office
Biden – sitting in front of a blazing fire, as Tuesday was an unseasonably cold day for March in D.C. – said the two leaders would discuss the U.S.-ASEAN relationship, ‘freedom of the seas’ – code for China’s claims in the South China Sea – promoting a return to democracy in Burma and sustainable economic growth between the two nations.
Lee thanked Biden for receiving him at ‘this special moment in world affairs.’
‘I’m sure you’re completely seized with what’s happening in Europe right now,’ Lee said.
Lee called Singapore a ‘very good partner’ to the United States. ‘And our relations are doing very well,’ the prime minister added.
‘We will, of course, exchange views also on Ukraine and what that means for Asia Pacific region,’ Lee said.
After the meeting, as they appeared together in the East Room, the leaders made clear that Ukraine and Russia dominated the conversation, but other issues -including North Korea’s latest weapons testing – were also discussed.
‘Today with the prime minister’s visit and Singapore’s strong leadership on this issue, it’s clear that Putin’s war is unacceptable to nations in every region of the world – not just Europe but every region of the world,’ Biden said.
‘We cannot condone any country arguing that another country’s independence is a result of historical errors and crazy decisions,’ Singapore’s Prime Minister Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Tuesday from the East Room
He also said of Lee: ‘Both you and Singapore punch way above your weight – way above your weight.’
In return Lee thanked Biden for the ‘very warm welcome.’
‘Singapore’s a staunch supporter of international law and the U.N. charter, which prohibits acts of aggression against a sovereign state. And that’s why we’ve strongly condemned the unprovoked attack by Russia on Ukraine,’ Singapore’s prime minister said.
He called Russia’s intrusion into Ukraine ‘unacceptable.’
‘We cannot condone any country arguing that another country’s independence is a result of historical errors and crazy decisions,’ Lee said.
Lee also talked about how the conflict in Ukraine could have repurcussions in the Asia-Pacific, where certain territorial disputes could ‘escalate to open conflict.’
‘Countries with interests in the region need to pursue all efforts to settle disagreements through peaceful means so that we can avoid reaching a point of no return,’ Lee said, encouraging ‘open chanels of dialogue’ between countries, including at the leader level.
To Biden he said there were ‘many friends in the region who want you to stay actively and consistently engaged.’
Lee was the first leader of a member nation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to visit Biden’s White House.
Biden was supposed to travel to Asia later this spring for an ASEAN meeting, but that trip is now delayed due to scheduling conflicts.
‘We’re disappointed but we are very committed to looking for ways in which we can find a good time to schedule this,’ the official said.
Biden will, however, host a summit of ASEAN leaders at the White House later in the spring.
Vice President Kamala Harris visited Singapore in August.
Lee will also visit with Harris Tuesday.
Lee spent time Monday at the Pentagon with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Biden and Lee last met on the sidelines of the G20 in Rome in October.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (left) greets Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (right) ahead of their meeting at the Pentagon Monday
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