The warning came shortly after the US imposed sanctions on dozens of Russian individuals and companies and expelled 10 Russian diplomats in retaliation for the Kremlin's efforts to influence US elections and a sweeping cyberattack the US blames on Moscow, in which it estimates that 16,000 computer systems, including those of federal agencies, were affected.
Biden said it is his "responsibility as president of the United States to" retaliate if Russian President Vladimir Putin chooses to escalate but maintained that Washington "is not looking to kick off a cycle of escalation and conflict with Russia."
"The United States is not looking to kick off a cycle of escalation and conflict with Russia. We want a stable, predictable relationship," he said at the White House. “Throughout our long history of competition, our two countries have been able to find ways to manage tensions and to keep them from escalating out of control."..
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U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday called for de-escalating the tension with Moscow after authorizing multiple sanctions against Russia.
ReplyDeleteIn his remarks at the White House, Biden detailed his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week, as well as his administration's approach to bilateral relations.
"I was clear with President Putin that we could have gone further, but I chose not to do so. I chose to be proportionate," Biden said, referring to the punitive actions against Russia that he authorized.
The United States earlier in the day announced the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats and sweeping sanctions against individuals and entities in response to Moscow's alleged election interference and cyber activities.
On the same day, Russia Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov summoned U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan, telling him that the new anti-Russian sanctions will shortly be followed by "a series of retaliatory measures."
"The United States is not looking to kick off a cycle of escalation and conflict with Russia," Biden said. "We want a stable, predictable relationship."
Biden suggested that Washington and Moscow work together to address global challenges such as non-proliferation, global pandemic, and climate change.