President Joe Biden stated on Tuesday that Ukraine’s recent counter-invasion into Russia has created a “real dilemma” for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During a press briefing under Air Force One, as he arrived in New Orleans, Biden revealed that the U.S. government maintains “constant contact” with Ukrainian officials regarding the ongoing situation.
“I have spoken with my staff regularly, probably every four or five hours for the last six or eight days, and it’s creating a real dilemma for Putin,” Biden said. He added that while the U.S. is closely engaged with Kyiv, he would not provide further details while the situation remains active.
The comments come after Ukraine launched a significant cross-border offensive into Russia’s Kursk region, north of Kharkiv, about a week ago.
This surprise attack has reportedly forced Putin to redirect Russian troops from other areas to protect their territory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is believed to have used this incursion to gain leverage in potential peace negotiations.
U.S. officials had previously been cautious in public remarks about the Ukrainian offensive. On Friday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced an additional $125 million in U.S. military aid to Ukraine, which includes air defence systems, rockets, artillery munitions, and anti-tank weapons.
This move followed Biden’s earlier decision to ease restrictions on American military support, allowing Ukraine to use U.S. missiles for limited cross-border strikes.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby emphasized the administration’s focus on understanding Ukraine’s goals and strategy but refrained from providing detailed commentary on the counteroffensive. “We’re in touch with our Ukrainian counterparts, and we are working to understand better what they’re doing, what their goals are, what their strategy is,” Kirby said.
The counter-invasion is a significant embarrassment for Putin, who faced a similar challenge last year with a cross-border rebellion led by mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, which exposed weaknesses in the Kremlin’s handling of the war.
The situation is also politically sensitive in the U.S. as the November 5 presidential election approaches. Former President Donald Trump has promised to negotiate an end to the conflict if re-elected, raising concerns among Ukrainian officials about potential concessions.
In April, Congress approved an additional $60.8 billion in aid for Ukraine, bringing the U.S.l U.S. support to $173.8 billion. Trump has criticized the scale of foreign aid, adding further uncertainty to the U.S.’s involvement in the conflict.
