Daily Mail/
President Joe Biden on Thursday told Americans to leave Ukraine immediately, warning them that they could not expect to be rescued by U.S. troops if Russia launched an invasion.
“American citizens should leave now,” Biden said in an interview with NBC News.
“It’s not like we’re dealing with a terrorist organization. We’re dealing with one of the largest armies in the world.
“It’s a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly.”
Russia has amassed some 120,000 troops close to the Ukrainian border, triggering fears of an invasion.
Extra American troops have been deploying to NATO allies in the region but Biden said he could not imagine any circumstances where they were sent to help Americans leave the country.
“There’s not,” he said.
“That’s a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another.
“We’re in a very different world than we’ve ever been.”
His comments come as another 130 tons of U.S. weapons – including Javelin anti-tank missiles – arrived in Ukraine on Thursday night in response to the 120,000 Russian troops amassed along the country’s border.
Tensions ramped up further on Thursday as Russia held military exercises in Belarus and the Black Sea, prompting Britain to declare it as the “most dangerous moment”.
Ukraine also staged war games and a senior U.S. official warned that “bodybags will come back to Moscow” if Russian troops crossed the border.
It leaves world leaders hoping diplomacy can still win the day and prompt President Vladimir Putin to back down.
A diplomatic source told DailyMail.com that the intelligence community did not believe that Putin intended to invade, but he still needed a way out that would allow him to save face.
In the interview, which will be broadcast in full before Sunday’s Super Bowl, Biden said he believed that if Putin was “foolish enough to go in, he’s smart enough not to, in fact, do anything that would negatively impact on American citizens”.
He also discussed his search for a Supreme Court nominee, after Justice Stephen Breyer said last month he was retiring.
“What I’ve done is I’ve taken about four people and done the deep dive on them, meaning … thorough background checks,” he said.
He has already promised to nominate the first black woman to the Supreme Court.
On indoor mask mandates, the other big story of the day, Biden suggested it may be too soon to lift the requirement for face coverings in federal government offices and public buildings.
He has found himself increasingly out of step with public opinion and Democratic governors in California, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Nevada and Oregon who announced this week that they were easing or ending mandates.
“I’ve committed that I would follow the science as put forward by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and federal people and I think it’s probably premature, but it’s, you know, it’s a tough call,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Europe, the latest shipment of weapons from the U.S. arrived at Boryspil International Airport near Kiev, Ukraine, on Thursday night, with about 130 tons worth of ammunition delivered.
It is believed to be the 14th part of a $200 million shipment of American military ai that is being sent to help its ally.
The shipment included Javelin anti-tank missiles, grenades and other defensive ammunition, said the Ukrainian defense minister Oleksii Reznikov.
He tweeted: “Two more birds in Kyiv! Javelins, grenades & other defensive ammunition for the Ukrainian military. The weight of military aid from our partners, which was delivered today-about 130 tons.”
The US embassy in Ukraine confirmed the news of the shipment and said that Washington has provided 1,200 tons of equipment so far.
“Tonight, the 14th flight arrived in Boryspil with American security assistance, including Javelin systems,” the embassy tweeted on Thursday night.
“The United States has provided nearly 1,200 tons of equipment approved by President Biden in January, which Ukraine needs to protect against ongoing Russian aggression.”
Meanwhile, six Russian landing ships filled with tanks and troops yesterday assembled in the Black Sea to back up the land forces, heightening concerns.
Moscow’s forces are also beginning joint military exercises with ally Belarus.
An estimated 30,000 troops are taking part in the 10-day war games.
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