President Joe Biden claimed on Thursday that “sanctions never deter” when pressed by a reporter on why his sanctions failed to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin from invading Ukraine.
Biden also claimed that he never said that sanctions would deter Putin, even though his administration, including his own vice president, have stated in the past that “the purpose of the sanctions has always been and continues to be deterrence.”
“Sir, deterrence didn’t work,” a reporter said. “What makes you think Vladimir Putin will alter course based on the action you’ve taken today?”
“Let’s get something straight. Do you remember, if you covered me from the very beginning, I did not say that, in fact, the sanctions would deter him,” Biden claimed. “Sanctions never deter. You keep talking about that. Sanctions never deter. The maintenance of sanctions, the maintenance of sanctions, the increasing the pain, and the demonstration why I asked for this NATO meeting today is to be sure that after a month, we will sustain what we’re doing, not just next month, the following month, but for the remainder of this entire year. That’s what will stop him.”
“You believe the actions today will have an impact on making Russia change course in Ukraine?” the reporter pressed.
“That’s not what I said. You’re playing a game with me,” Biden claimed. “I know. The answer is no. I think what happens is we have to demonstrate — the purpose, the single most important thing is for us to stay unified, and the world continue to focus on what a brute this guy is. And all the innocent people’s lives that are being lost and ruined, and what’s going on. That’s the important thing. But look, if you’re Putin, and you think that the Europe is going to crack in a month, or six weeks, or two months. Why not, they can take anything for another month. But we have to demonstrate. The reason I asked for the meeting, we have to stay fully, totally, thoroughly united.”
WATCH:
WATCH: Joe Biden SNAPS at reporter's question about effectiveness of sanctions and deterrence on Putin
CBS's @EenaRuffini: “Sir deterrence didn’t work”
Biden: “Let’s get something straight. I did not say sanctions would deter him. Sanctions never deter…“ pic.twitter.com/RRh6sf4uSt
— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) March 24, 2022
TRANSCRIPT:
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. You have one final question, right. Hey, wait, hold on a second, please. I was supposed to be an hour ago at the European Union meeting, and to speak … now I’m thanking you. Someone I haven’t called on before. You. Who are you?
REPORTER: Sir, deterrence didn’t work. What makes you think Vladimir Putin will alter course based on the action you’ve taken today?
BIDEN: Let’s get something straight. Do you remember, if you covered me from the very beginning, I did not say that, in fact, the sanctions would deter him. Sanctions never deter. You keep talking about that. Sanctions never deter. The maintenance of sanctions, the maintenance of sanctions, the increasing the pain, and the demonstration why I asked for this NATO meeting today is to be sure that after a month, we will sustain what we’re doing, not just next month, the following month, but for the remainder of this entire year. That’s what will stop him.
REPORTER: You believe the actions today will have an impact on making Russia change course in Ukraine?
BIDEN: That’s not what I said. You, you’re, you’re playing a game with me. I know. The answer is no. I think what happens is we have to demonstrate — the purpose, the single most important thing is for us to stay unified, and the world continue to focus on what a brute this guy is. And all the innocent people’s lives that are being lost and ruined, and what’s going on. That’s the important thing. But look, if you’re Putin, and you think that Europe is going to crack in a month, or six weeks, or two months. Why not, they can take anything for another month. But we have to demonstrate. The reason I asked for the meeting, we have to stay fully, totally, thoroughly united.