Putin 'Must Be Stopped,' Biden Says, As Russia Pummels Ukraine With Massive Wave Of Airstrikes

As Russia on Friday launched one of its worst aerial attacks on Ukraine since the start of the war, killing dozens of civilians, U.S. President Joe Biden called the strikes a "stark reminder" that Vladimir Putin remained committed to destroying Ukraine and said "he must be stopped," TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

Biden, in a statement issued during his vacation in St. Croix, said the overnight massive bombardment used drones and missiles, including missiles with hypersonic capability, to strike cities and civilian infrastructure all across Ukraine.

Strikes reportedly hit a maternity hospital, a shopping mall, and residential areas—killing innocent people and injuring dozens more.

"It is a stark reminder to the world that, after nearly two years of this devastating war, Putin’s objective remains unchanged. He seeks to obliterate Ukraine and subjugate its people," Biden noted.
 

The U.S. President used the opportunity to urge Congress to approve continued aid.

In the face of this brutal attack, he said, Ukraine deployed the air defense systems that the U.S, it allies and partners have delivered over the past year to successfully intercept and destroy many of the missiles and drones, however, "unless Congress takes urgent action in the new year, we will not be able to continue sending the weapons and vital air defense systems Ukraine needs to protect its people," as Biden put it.

Since Russia's invasion, the U.S. Congress has approved more than $110 billion for Ukraine, but for weeks, Senators have struggled to strike a bargain pairing about $50 billion in fresh military aid with border enforcement measures stringent enough to satisfy Republicans but not so severe as to alienate Democrats. They left the town last week for a holiday break. The two sides have been unable to unite behind immigration reform legislation.

Biden said the stakes of the fight extended far beyond Ukraine to the entire NATO alliance and the security of Europe, and warned of risks to the U.S.

He went on to add, "Putin has not just attempted to destroy Ukraine; he has threatened some of our NATO Allies as well. When dictators and autocrats are allowed to run roughshod in Europe, the risk rises that the United States gets pulled in directly.  And the consequences reverberate around the world"

That’s why, Biden added, the U.S. has rallied a coalition of more than 50 countries to support the defense of Ukraine.

He concluded: "We cannot let our allies and partners down.  We cannot let Ukraine down.  History will judge harshly those who fail to answer freedom’s call."

Separately, the White House on Friday said that Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, discussed reports of a missile temporarily entering Polish airspace with Polish Secretary of State Jacek Siewiera.

Sullivan expressed the United States’ solidarity with Poland, and pledged technical assistance as needed, and assured his Polish counterpart that Biden is following this issue closely.

Siewiera "expressed appreciation for U.S. support, and they stated their governments will remain in close contact," the White House said.

Alex Raufoglu