Ukrainian offensive in Kursk tests Putin as Biden breaks silence
- The Ukrainian attack is "creating a real dilemma" for Russian leader Vladimir Putin - Joe Biden stated when asked about Ukrainian actions in the Kursk region.
- 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 And we’ve been in direct contact, constant contact with the Ukrainians. That’s all I’m going to say about it while it’s active - said Biden, answering journalists' questions on the tarmac at New Orleans airport.
This was the president's first comment on the Ukrainian offensive on Russian territory. Administration officials have so far been reserved about the situation, limiting their statements to the notion that decisions on Ukrainian military operations are up to Ukraine, and the US was not informed in advance about the operation in the Kursk region.
On Tuesday, during a briefing on Air Force One, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre noted that the United States is not involved in Ukraine's offensive inside Russia.
Earlier, Joe Biden avoided commenting. When asked at the White House about the Ukrainian counteroffensive, he would "rather not comment on that publicly."
Will Iran retaliate? Biden comments
In New Orleans, Biden also addressed the expected Iranian retaliatory attack on Israel for the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31. Biden stated that he expects Iran to refrain from retaliation if an agreement between Hamas and Israel on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is reached beforehand. The White House warned that an Iranian attack could happen this week, although a new round of peace talks is set to begin on Thursday.
At the same time, Biden admitted that reaching an agreement to stop the war is becoming more complex but assured that he won't give up.
