President Joe Biden's candid remarks about his predecessor's approach to Russian aggression have come to light.
According to a new book by Bob Woodward, Biden blamed former President Barack Obama for mishandling Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine.
The Daily Mail Online reports that Biden expressed frustration over Obama's failure to take stronger measures against Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014.
In Woodward's upcoming book "War," Biden is quoted as saying to a friend, "They fed up in 2014. That's why we are here. We fed it up. Barack never took Putin seriously." These comments shed light on Biden's perspective on the current Ukraine crisis and its historical context.
When Russian forces entered Crimea in 2014, Obama chose to impose minor sanctions on Russian individuals and businesses rather than send weapons to Ukraine. This decision, according to Biden, gave Putin a "license to continue."
Obama later defended his actions, stating they challenged Putin with the tools available at the time, considering Ukraine's situation then.
The book portrays Biden as taking a much harder line on Putin. He reportedly told advisers in the Oval Office:
That f***ing Putin. Putin is evil. We are dealing with the epitome of evil.
This characterization underscores the stark difference in approach between the Obama and Biden administrations regarding Russia.
While Biden criticizes Obama's handling of Putin, the book also notes that European leaders have expressed frustration with Biden's own reluctance to provide certain weapons requested by Ukraine.
This revelation points to the ongoing challenges in formulating a unified response to Russian aggression, even among allies.
Woodward's book also discloses that former President Donald Trump maintained regular communication with Putin after leaving office. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Trump reportedly sent Putin a supply of COVID tests for personal use.
The book claims Putin asked Trump to keep this gesture confidential, adding another layer to the complex relationships between U.S. presidents and the Russian leader.
In conclusion, Biden's criticism of Obama's 2014 response to Putin highlights the ongoing challenges in U.S.-Russia relations. The book reveals Biden's belief that past inaction contributed to the current Ukraine crisis while also shedding light on the different approaches taken by successive U.S. administrations in dealing with Russian aggression. These revelations offer insight into the complexities of international diplomacy and the long-term consequences of foreign policy decisions.
