According to US President Joe Biden, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin misjudged his war of aggression against Ukraine. “I think he’s a rational actor who has miscalculated significantly,” said Biden to the US broadcaster CNN in an interview that was broadcast on Tuesday evening (local time). Putin had wrongly assumed that the Ukrainians would submit to a Russian invasion. “I think he thought he was going to be welcomed with open arms,” Biden said. “I think he just completely miscalculated.”
Although he believes that Putin is acting rationally, his goals in Ukraine are irrational. This also becomes clear when one listens to Putin’s speech, which he gave immediately after his decision to launch a war of aggression against Ukraine. Putin spoke there of the idea that he was needed as the leader of a Russia “that unites all Russian-speaking people,” said Biden. “I just think it’s irrational.”
When asked whether Putin could carry out his threats to use nuclear weapons, Biden said: “I don’t think he will.” But it was “irresponsible” for the head of state of one of the world’s largest nuclear powers to say he could use a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine. As a result, mistakes could be made and misjudgments made. “He cannot talk about using a tactical nuclear weapon with impunity as if that were a reasonable thing to do.”
Biden left open whether he would meet Putin at the G20 summit next month in Indonesia. At the moment he sees no good reason for a meeting. “If Putin wants to talk about imprisoned American basketball player Brittney Griner, he’s open to a conversation. But look, he acted brutally,” Biden said. “I think he committed war crimes. And that’s why I see no reason to meet with him now.”
The domestic political part of the interview revolved around, among other things, Biden’s possible renewed candidacy for the presidency. Biden announced that he would make a decision after the US midterm elections, which are due in just under four weeks. “When that’s done in November, I’ll make a decision,” Biden said on CNN. When asked if he thinks he’s the only Democrat who could win a hypothetical election against former US President and Republican Donald Trump, Biden said, “I think I can beat Donald Trump one more time.”
The Democrat Biden had emphasized in the past that he intends to run again for the office of US President – if his health allows it. Trump has repeatedly indicated for months that he wants to run again for the Republicans. Biden would be 81 at the next presidential election, Trump 78. When asked about his age, Biden said: “The only question is whether you can do your job. And I’m convinced that I can do my job.”
