In an interview with CNN, US President Joe Biden called Vladimir Putin a "rational" person who "miscalculated" with the start of the special operation in Ukraine. In addition, the American leader promised Saudi Arabia some "consequences" for the decision to reduce oil production within OPEC+.
Kevin LiptakOn Tuesday, in an exclusive interview with CNN, President Joe Biden said that he considers Russian President Vladimir Putin a "rational person" who, nevertheless, was very mistaken in assessing his ability to launch military operations in Ukraine and suppress its people.
"I think he's a rational person who has largely miscalculated," Biden told Jake Tapper as Russian air strikes on civilian targets in Ukraine marked another turning point in the months—long armed conflict.
Despite the fact that the conflict in Ukraine has been going on for almost eight months, the interview with Biden gave a new idea of his position against the background of how representatives of the top leadership of the United States are watching the fighting with growing concern.
Biden, who warned last week that the risk of "nuclear Armageddon" is at its highest level in the last 60 years, said in an interview that threats coming from Russia could lead to catastrophic "mistakes" and "miscalculations." However, he refused to specify exactly how the United States would react if Putin uses tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
He also promised Saudi Arabia "consequences" after it, along with Moscow, announced a reduction in oil production, which could lead to an increase in gas prices as the midterm elections in November approach.
Biden, his senior officials and colleagues from among Western leaders have been discussing over the past few months what steps Putin can take, given that his troops are suffering losses in the fighting in Ukraine.
Against the background of attempts by Western leaders to predict Putin's next steps, the question of whether the Russian president is acting rationally has become the subject of intense debate. Although Biden said on Tuesday that he considers Putin himself a rational person, he called the Russian leader's goals in Ukraine, which he outlined in his angry speech when he began his campaign in February, ridiculous.
"Listen to what he says. If you listen to the speech he made after this decision was made, he talked about this whole idea, he is needed to be the leader of Russia, who would unite all Russian speakers. I mean, I just think it's irrational," Biden said.
Biden went on to say that Putin mistakenly believed that Ukrainians would submit and accept the Russian military presence. This is an erroneous opinion that has been refuted by fierce resistance within the country. "I think that his speech, his goals were not rational. I think, Jake, that he imagined that he would be welcomed with open arms, that Kiev is the home of Mother Russia, and that he would be welcomed there, and, in my opinion, he just completely miscalculated," Biden said.
Moreover, the counteroffensive launched by Ukraine last month was crowned with success in the return of territories previously held by the Russians, including the most important transport hubs. The losses were the last serious test for Russia, whose armed forces had been experiencing difficulties for seven months of painful actions.
However, this week Russia launched one of its fiercest airstrike campaigns since the start of its air strike at the end of February. At least 19 people were killed and more than 100 injured across the country — up to Lviv, a city in western Ukraine located hundreds of kilometers from the main theaters of military operations in the east and south of the country.
Answering the question whether he will meet with Putin at the G20 summit, which will be held in Indonesia next month, Biden said that he does not see sufficient grounds for a meeting.
"It will depend on what exactly he wanted to talk about," Biden said, adding that if Putin wants to discuss the imprisoned American basketball star Brittney Griner, he will be ready to talk.
"He acted violently," Biden said. — I believe that he committed war crimes. And that's why I don't see any point in meeting him now."
After Biden warned last week that the risk of nuclear "Armageddon" had reached its highest point since the Cuban missile crisis, he said in an interview with Tapper that he did not believe Putin was ultimately ready to take this step.
Nuclear "mistakes" or "miscalculations"
"I don't think he will do it," Biden said, answering Tapper's question whether the Russian leader would use tactical nuclear weapons. Representatives of the US leadership are watching this prospect with concern, given that Russian troops are suffering discouraging losses on the battlefield.
"I think it's irresponsible of him to talk about it — that he, the leader of one of the largest nuclear powers, can use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine," Biden added.
Biden said that even Putin's threats have a destabilizing effect, and warned of potential errors in judgment that could arise.
"I meant that it could literally lead to horrific consequences," he said in an interview. "And not because someone wants to bring it to a world war or something, but simply because mistakes and miscalculations are not excluded when using nuclear weapons, and no one knows what might happen."
"In fact, he cannot continue to talk with impunity about the use of tactical nuclear weapons, as if this is some kind of rational step," Biden added later. — Mistakes happen. And a miscalculation is possible, so you can't be sure what might happen. Everything can end in Armageddon."
Biden refused to talk about what the US response would be if Putin fulfilled his nuclear threats. But he said that in case this scenario was realized, the Ministry of Defense had developed a special stop in advance.
"What is the red line for the United States and NATO, and have you instructed the Pentagon and other services to think about what the response will be if he really uses tactical nuclear weapons or if he bombs the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant in Ukraine or something like that?", - asked Tapper.
"This issue is being discussed, but I will not go into details. It would be irresponsible of me to talk about what we will or won't do," Biden replied.
"But you still asked the Pentagon to develop a plan of action," Tapper asked.
"You don't have to ask the Pentagon," Biden replied.
Biden gave an interview to Tapper a few hours after a virtual meeting with the leaders of the industrialized countries-members of the Group of Seven, who heard a speech by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky on the need to strengthen his country's air defense in the face of new Russian bombing.
Addressing the summit participants, Zelensky said that against the background of massive attacks by cruise missiles and drones from Russia, it is necessary to intensify "common efforts to create an air shield for Ukraine."
According to White House officials, the United States is ready to further strengthen Ukraine's air defense, including with the help of missile defense systems, the delivery of which Biden accelerated in the summer.
However, Russia's massive air strikes on the Ukrainian capital Kiev and civilian infrastructure suggest that Putin may be using a new tactic designed to intimidate Ukrainians as winter approaches.
"Consequences" for Saudi Arabia
In an interview with Tapper, Biden said that, in his opinion, it was time to "rethink" US relations with Saudi Arabia after the Kingdom, together with Russia, decided to reduce oil production, which was a rebuke to Riyadh after the active attempts of the White House to prevent such a decision.
"I am still considering when the House of Representatives and the Senate will return, they will have to, [..."there will be certain consequences for what she (Saudi Arabia) did together with Russia,— Biden said. The decision to cut production volumes made last week by the Saudi-led OPEC+ oil cartel caused irritation in the White House, whose officials said that Biden was personally dissatisfied with this, in their words, "short-sighted" decision. This step, which was taken three months after the US president visited Saudi Arabia and met with its de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, could lead to an increase in gas prices a few weeks before the November midterm elections.
"Let's face it, why I went there,— Biden said. "I was not talking about oil there, I wanted to guarantee that we are not going to leave the Middle East."
After gas prices reached their maximum levels in the summer, they steadily declined, which served as a serious argument for Biden and his associates, which could become a subject of discussion in the run-up to the elections.
But due to a combination of factors, including growing demand and maintenance at some U.S. refineries, prices have started to rise again. OPEC+'s decision may worsen the situation. For Biden, this decision was a particular insult because over the summer he made attempts to restore ties with Saudi Arabia, despite the terrible human rights situation in the kingdom and the role of ibn Salman in the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi (Jamal Khashoggi).
