WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden warned Russia on Wednesday that it would pay a hard price for a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine, but sowed confusion by suggesting a "minor" incursion, much less a push from the West.
Biden said he does not believe President Vladimir Putin wants war, but added that the Russian leader has created a situation that is proving extremely difficult to avert - and that it can easily be done "by hand" in the region. can leave".
"My guess is he will move on. He has to do something," Biden said during a news conference marking his first year in office.
He said Putin could plan "much less than a significant offensive" to test the United States and NATO, which would be accomplished with less pushback from allies.
"It's one thing if it's a minor intrusion, and then we end up fighting about do's and don'ts, etc," he said.
- 'sharp' and 'serious' -
Republican lawmakers rebuked the US leader, accusing Russian troops of silently handling the attack.
Senator Tom Cotton tweeted: "Joe Biden's impotence encouraged Vladimir Putin and now he has given the go-ahead to Putin to invade Ukraine."
Senator Marco Rubio called Biden's comments "bizarre."
"So if (Putin) only handles parts of Ukraine our response will be less severe than if he takes it all away?" He said on Twitter.
The White House moved swiftly to clarify Biden's comments.
Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, "If any Russian military force moves across the Ukrainian border, it is a renewed offensive, and it will be met with a swift, serious and united response from the United States and our allies." "
The Russians have "an extensive playbook of aggression minus military action, including cyberattacks and paramilitary tactics," she said, referring to Biden's own explanation.
Biden "confirmed today that those acts of Russian aggression will be met with a decisive, reciprocal and united response," she said.
- Huge loss of life -
Biden was speaking ahead of a meeting in Geneva between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday.
Blinken held meetings in Kiev on Wednesday to prepare for the Geneva talks and urged Moscow to choose a "peaceful route".
With more than 100,000 troops and war-building machinery bordering Ukraine, Moscow has sent alarm through the West over its threat to Kiev.
Biden said the US and its allies were "prepared to inflict serious costs and significant damage on Russia and the Russian economy" if attacked.
"If they really do what they are capable of doing with their might at the border, it will be a disaster for Russia," Biden told reporters.
"The cost of moving to Ukraine in terms of material loss of life, for the Russians ... it's going to be enormous."
- 'Room to work' -
Biden suggested ways to disengage, downplaying Putin's biggest concerns, that Ukraine would join NATO and that the West would create a strategic weapons position in Ukraine.
And he opened the door to a new summit with his Russian counterpart.
"There's room to work if he wants to," he said.
"I worry that it could get out of hand, very easily, because ... Ukraine borders on, and what Russia can or cannot do," he said.
"I'm hoping Vladimir Putin understands that other than a full-blown nuclear war, he's not in a very good position to dominate the world," Biden said.
"Putin has, I know, a tough choice, either escalation or diplomacy," he said.
"I think he'll pay a serious and expensive price for it if he doesn't think now."