Exclusive
'FUEL ON FIRE'

Russian invasion of Ukraine is ‘inevitable after Biden’s mistakes’, expert warns as Joe weighs up sending 50,000 troops

A RUSSIAN invasion of Ukraine is “inevitable” if the West cannot unite in its response to aggression from Moscow, an expert has warned.

Isabel Sawkins, a research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, slammed President Biden’s recent comments that a minor inversion by Russia would trigger a lesser response than a full-blown military invasion.

Advertisement
Joe Biden was blasted when he suggested Russia could face a smaller penalty for a 'minor incursion' before quickly clarifying his commentsCredit: Reuters
The US has started evacuating staff and their families amid fears of a Russian invasion

Reports say that the US could send up to 50,000 troops to Eastern Europe if the Ukrainian crisis continues to deteriorate.

Sawkins believes this week is crucial as the crisis continues to heat up, with Washington expected to issue a response to Moscow's aggression in the coming days.

She called on the West to present a united front, urging nations must make it clear that Russia has to back down.

The expert told The Sun: “At the moment, unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case, and without that united response, then absolutely invasion is inevitable.

Advertisement

“There is no united effort. Putin knows that he’s managed to dig these sorts of crevasses to basically isolate certain parts of the West."

Last week, Biden suggested Russia could face a smaller penalty for a "minor incursion", sparking outrage.

Most read in The US Sun

MARY'S MESSAGE
Mary J. Blige takes swipe at Diddy with quote about 'burnt bridges'
SUSSEX SQUALID
Inside the sinister world of Sussex Squad trolls making Kate's life a misery
GIMME MORE
Britney Spears goes naked on the beach after admitting 'weakness' from new diet
GLEEFUL NEWS!
Lea Michele announces she is pregnant with second child with Zandy Reich

He said: “It’s one thing if it’s a minor incursion and we end up having to fight about what to do and not to do, et cetera.

“If there is something that is where there are Russian forces crossing the border, killing Ukrainian fighters, et cetera, I think that changes everything.”

Advertisement

Biden scrambled to clarify his comments as he told reporters a day later: “He (Putin) has no misunderstanding. If any assembled Russian units move across (the) Ukrainian border, that is an invasion.”

Sawkins said: “What Biden said was an absolute mistake. It doesn’t matter the size of the invasion. The US has a responsibility as a member of NATO to look out for Ukraine.

“I don’t know if Biden stumbled with his words, but it only added fuel to the fire.”

The expert revealed that Putin would’ve felt “emboldened” when Biden made the blunder, and Russian officials would’ve been “rubbing their hands with glee”.

Advertisement

'GREEN LIGHT' FOR INVASION

She warned: “The ramifications of Biden’s comments potentially could’ve been catastrophic. If he says the wrong thing and doesn’t come back quickly enough for clarification, who knows what would’ve happened.”

GOP Senator Ben Sasse, of Nebraska, claimed that Biden had effectively “gave Putin a green light to invade Ukraine”.

Biden is mulling over plans to send up to 5,000 US troops to Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia in a bid to counter Russian aggression.

The commander-in-chief is also considering sending naval vessels to make port visits to NATO allies that are under threat.

Advertisement

Troop numbers could rise to 50,000 if the security situation deteriorates.

But, Biden is apparently reluctant to deploy forces to Ukraine as he doesn’t want to enter into another conflict– months following the Afghanistan crisis, according to the New York Times.

'INEVITABLE' CONFLICT?

Sawkins said: "Whilst it is important for Biden to be sending troops to the broader region of Eastern Europe, reluctance to deploy forces directly to Ukraine is disappointing."

Reports say that Putin is preparing to install a Russian stooge to take over the Eastern European nation as troops prepare for a possible invasion.

Advertisement

Britain has named former MP Yehven Murayev as a potential candidate, but intelligence officials have touted four other Ukrainian allies who reportedly have links with the Kremlin.

The US has begun withdrawing some staff and their families from Ukraine amid fears of an invasion.

An advisory from the State Department said: “There are reports Russia is planning significant military action against Ukraine.”

Non-essential US embassy staff have also been told they can leave, and other US citizens have been urged to do the same.

Advertisement

The State Department also warned people not to travel to Ukraine or Russia due to the "potential for harassment against US citizens".

Russia's aggression shows little sign of cooling as the crisis in Ukraine simmersCredit: EPA
Vladimir Putin is planning to install a Kremlin stooge to run Ukraine following a potential invasion, reports sayCredit: AFP
Inside Biden’s biggest gaffes and failures from falling up stairs of Air Force One to weakness on world stage

We pay for your stories!

Do you have a story for The US Sun team?

Email us at exclusive@the-sun.com or call 212 416 4552.

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSunUS and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunUS

Topics
Advertisement
You might like
Advertisement
Advertisement
Show More
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement