President Joe Biden warned on March 23 that there’s is a “real threat” that Russia could use chemical weapons against Ukraine, as he left the White House for Europe, seeking to further unite NATO allies in opposition to Russia’s invasion and war in Ukraine.
The president is traveling to Brussels to attend an emergency NATO summit, meet with Group of Seven (G-7) leaders, and attend a European Council summit. The stated goal is to coordinate the next phase of military assistance to Ukraine and impose further economic sanctions against Russia.
Biden is set to make announcements alongside allies on “long-term adjustments” to NATO force posture on its eastern flank, further U.S. humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and new efforts to reduce European dependence on Russian oil.
Biden will then visit Poland to meet with leadership there as that country deals with a flood of more than 2 million refugees from Ukraine.
To date, the United States has committed billions of dollars in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine while coordinating with its allies in an effort to isolate Russia’s economy. This has included sanctioning Russian financial systems and individuals in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle. The United States also has banned the import of Russian oil and, along with other G-7 nations, moved to end Russia’s normal trade status.
As he departed from the White House, Biden indicated to reporters that he would say more on the potential for chemical warfare directly to the leaders he'll meet with in Europe.
“All I have to say, I’m going to say it when I get there,” he said, adding that he will be “happy to talk to you guys when I get back.”
Biden has also warned that Russia is “exploring options” for a potential cyberattack against U.S. critical infrastructure, with the president issuing a “call to action” on March 21 to the U.S. private sector to shore up its cyber security.
Biden and top administration officials have conceded that the war in Ukraine, which is now almost a month old, will not “end easily or rapidly.” National security adviser Jake Sullivan assured reporters on March 22 that Russia won’t successfully “subjugate Ukraine,” “enhance Russian power and prestige,” or “divide and weaken the West.”
Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin announced on March 23 in a government meeting that Russia will now accept payment for gas exports to “unfriendly countries” in rubles only.
Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the U.S. ambassador in Moscow earlier in the week that Biden referring to Putin as a war criminal has strained ties between the two countries to “the verge of breaking.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on March 21 that he was prepared to discuss a commitment from Ukraine not to seek NATO membership in exchange for a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Russian troops, and a guarantee of Ukraine’s security.
“It’s a compromise for everyone: for the West, which doesn’t know what to do with us with regard to NATO, for Ukraine, which wants security guarantees, and for Russia, which doesn’t want further NATO expansion,” Zelenskyy said in an interview with Ukrainian television channels.
