President Biden on Friday scolded a journalist who asked him to comment on President Vladimir Putin's comments that the United States and Russia would effectively be at war if America's commander in chief lifted restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range missiles on Russian soil.
“Stay quiet until I speak, OK? That's what I'm saying. That's a good idea,” Biden, 81, roared at the start of a meeting with visiting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House.
The reporter continued: “However, [Russian President] “Vladimir Putin's threats of war? That's a serious threat.”
“Quiet,” Biden responded. “I'm going to make a statement here, OK?”
The reporter appears to have been part of a press corps touring Britain and may not have been familiar with the American practice of waiting until the president had finished speaking before asking a question.
After brief introductory remarks from Biden and Starmer, journalists again posed questions.
“I don't think much about Vladimir Putin,” Biden said.
The top commander confirmed on Monday that Kiev was considering easing restrictions on using U.S.-supplied weapons against Russia.
“We're trying to resolve that right now,” Biden told reporters on the White House lawn.
“This means that NATO countries, that is, the United States and European countries, are at war with Russia,” Putin responded.
“If that is the case, we will take appropriate decisions based on the threat posed to us, keeping in mind the changing nature of this conflict,” he said.
In Ukraine, the threat of nuclear war looms in the nearly three-year conflict, with Washington largely providing funding and arms to resistance to Putin's invasion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has become increasingly bold in his push back against Russia as the November 5 U.S. presidential election approaches, including launching a surprise invasion of Russian territory on August 6.
Ukraine still holds some territory in Russia's Kursk region, which could be a potential bargaining chip in peace talks.
Former President Donald Trump had pledged to fast-track a peace deal to end the war if he won the election, and Zelenskiy publicly expressed concern that would mean Ukraine ceding territory currently held by Russia in southern and eastern Ukraine.
