Ukraine President: Biden to Blame for Russian Invasion
Volodymyr Zelensky tells U.S senators that Biden could have prevented war but failed
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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has told U.S. senators that Democrat Joe Biden is responsible for the Russian invasion because he could have prevented the war but failed to do so.
Zelensky blasted Biden's weakness during his Zoom call with members of Congress Saturday morning.
“If you had started sanctions months ago, there would not have been war,” Zelensky said, a Senate source told the New York Post.
Several officials, including Zelensky, had said that sanctions could have prevented the invasion from happening.
However, the Biden administration refused to unleash sanctions on Russia, despite warnings.
“You tell me 100% that there will be war in a few days’ time. What are you waiting for?” Zelensky said in February before the invasion.
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“We will not need your sanctions after there is a bombardment, or after our state is shot at, or if we have no more borders, we do not have an economy, or parts of our state is occupied.”
Zelensky also asked for lethal aid from the U.S. and an oil embargo on Russian oil.
However, the Biden admin has been reluctant to support such a move, as doing so would contribute to the already high gas prices going even higher and the president’s approval ratings going even lower.
The United States is enriching Russia by currently spending roughly $74 million daily on Russian oil.
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During his call with senators, Zelensky thanked the US for the assistance it has already sent and pleaded for additional American military aid for his besieged country.
“These are devils that are doing this,” Zelensky said of the invading Russian troops, GOP Sen. Steve Daines of Montana told Fox News.
Dozens of lawmakers unmuted themselves to thank Zelensky for his bravery as the call came to an end – with some pledging “Slava Ukraini” — Glory to Ukraine, according to the Senate source.
The embattled Ukrainian leader expressed support for a potential US boycott of Russian oil, in response to a question posed by West Virginia’s Sen. Joe Manchin, the source added.
“He said repeatedly that an embargo on Russia, and particularly their oil and natural gas, was absolutely critical,” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) told Fox News.
Zelensky scheduled the 9:30 a.m. call with the lawmakers ahead of Congressional debate over a request for a $10 billion emergency funding package that would provide humanitarian aid and security assistance, NBC News reported.
