Joe Biden warns Russia that invading Ukraine ‘will prove to be a self-inflicted wound’ that ‘the world will not forget’

President Joe Biden warned Russia that if it moves forward with invading Ukraine, it would be a ‘self-inflicted wound’ that ‘the world will not forget’, and vowed that the US and allies will respond ‘decisively’.

The US is continuing diplomatic efforts to deescalate tensions at the border with Ukraine, Biden said on Tuesday afternoon, and attempted to appeal to Russia to back down from attacking its neighbor.

Speaking from the White House, Biden told Russia that invading Ukraine ‘would be a war of choice’.

‘If Russia attacks Ukraine, it would be a war of choice, a war without a cause or reason,’ Biden said. ‘I say these things not to provoke, but to speak the truth because the truth matters. Accountability matters.’

‘The world will not forget that Russia chose needless death and destruction. Invading Ukraine will prove to be a self-inflicted wound,’ Biden continued. ‘The US and our allies and partners will respond decisively.’

Biden said a Russian invasion would come at an immense human cost to Ukraine, ‘and the strategic cost for Russia will also be immense’. There would be ‘overwhelming international condemnation’, he added.

‘The US and Nato are not a threat to Russia. Ukraine is not threatening Russia. Neither the US nor Nato have missiles in Ukraine,’ Biden said. ‘We do not, do not have plans to put them there as well. We’re not targeting the people of Russia. We do not seek to destabilize Russia.’

The US president continued: ‘To the citizens of Russia: You are not our enemy. And I do not believe you want a bloody destructive war against Ukraine, a country and a people with whom you share such deep ties of family, history and culture.’

Biden said the US has not verified a report that Russian military forces have begun leaving their positions at the border with Ukraine.

‘That would be good but we have not yet verified that. We have not yet verified the Russian military units are returning to their home bases,’ Biden said. ‘Indeed our analysts indicate that they still remain very much in a threatening position.’

About 100,000 Russian troops are presumably still in position to invade.

Biden called on remaining American citizens in Ukraine to leave immediately. The US’s decision on Monday to temporarily relocate its Ukraine embassy from the capital Kyiv to Lviv in the western part of the country is an indication of continued danger, he said.

Asked shortly after Biden’s remarks to elaborate on diplomatic efforts, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that they continue ‘at the pace and urgency that you have seen from him over the last several weeks’. Biden, as well as high-level officials, are engaging in the talks, she said.

Successful diplomatic efforts would look like Russia ‘pulling back troops, where they are making clear that they are not invading Ukraine and backing that up with actions’, Psaki said.

If Russia decides not to invade Ukraine, it would be considered a victory not only for Biden, she said.

‘I think the world, the global community would consider that a victory,’ Psaki said, but that it is ‘ultimately up to President (Vladimir) Putin’.

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