West Stresses Unified Stance on Ukraine After Biden’s ‘Minor Incursion’ Remark

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, is seated with the French delegation for a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, and British Minister of State for Middle East, North Africa and North America James Cleverly, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Berlin, Germany on Jan. 20, 2022. Alex Brandon/Pool via Reuters

BERLIN/KYIV—The United States and Western countries sought to project unity and a tough stance over Ukraine on Thursday, after U.S. President Joe Biden suggested allies were split over how to react to any potential “minor incursion” from Russia.

Biden rowed back on his comments, made during a Wednesday news conference, saying on Thursday that “I have been absolutely clear with President (Vladimir) Putin, he has no misunderstanding. If any, any assembled Russian units move across the Ukrainian border that is an invasion.”