OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has a habit of getting testy with reporters when they ask tough questions about the president and the administration.
A week ago Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy snapped at NATO when he said, “All the people who will die from this day will die because of you, as well. Because of your weakness. Because of your disunity.”
On Monday, ABC News White House correspondent Cecilia Vega asked Psaki about that and asked if President Biden was “happy” or “okay” with the response.
“And President Zelenskyy said that, in recent days, that ‘all the people who will die from this day, will die also because of you.’ He’s essentially saying the West will have blood on its hands if it doesn’t do more. Is the President happy with — does he believe the cr- — the administration’s response so far to this crisis has been adequate? Is he okay? Does he consider this successful at this point?” the reporter said.
“I mean, Cecilia, I don’t think anybody watching this anywhere around the world feels happy. This is — this is —,” the White House Press Secretary said before being interrupted.
“But as it relates to the American side of this?” the reporter said.
“But let me finish. This is barbaric. It’s horrific to watch. I mean, you have 1.5 million, if not more, refugees crossing the border. You have mothers and children dead on the side of the road. This is heart-wrenching to watch. And — ugh, sorry, it’s — it is. It’s heart-wrenching to watch, you know?” the press secretary said.
“And I think for us who are working in public service, you watch in these moments and there are — there are limitations in the sense that we are not going to send U.S. troops to fight in Ukraine against Russia. The President is not going to do that. That is what you have to weigh as President of the United States.
“What we are doing and what he is doing is continuing to take every step to provide them security assistance — $1 billion of security assistance. That has been expedited. I know the Department of Defense gave an update on Friday about how much of that has arrived. A huge percentage has arrived and been expedited in a very short timeframe,” she said.
“We have also provided economic, humanitarian assistance. And I think any world leader would tell you that without the President’s leadership and without the United States rallying the world to hold Russia accountable, there would not be the kind of accountability, pressure on the financial system in Russia.
“So we are doing everything that is in the interest of the United States, in the interest of our partners in NATO to put pressure on President Putin, to support the Ukrainians, and certainly doing that while we watch them fight bravely and courageously,” the press secretary said.
“I think the last think I would say on this, Cecilia, is that it’s also important — and we’re very cognizant of this here — to be clear that this is going to be — continue to be a very, very difficult period of time. The Ukrainians are fighting bravely. We’re standing by them and supporting them. But Russia is — you know, they’re going to continue to fight. They are going to continue to pursue what President Putin’s ambition is,” she said.
WATCH:
Press Secretary Psaki to Cecilia Vega on expected Russia, Belarus military exercises: “I wouldn’t make a prediction on what it means in terms of invasion.” pic.twitter.com/IT9ZdO8HhB
— IT’S TIME FOR JUSTICE (@LiddleSavages) February 10, 2022
A week ago a reporter rankled Psaki when he asked if the United States was going to simply “just watch this get worse.”
“Can you give us any sense of a timeline or a triggering event that would result in this policy change regarding Russian oil and any decisions that may be forthcoming? Is that imminent? Or is there something that — you know, is there an event — an outside event that you’re waiting for?” the reporter said.
“I wouldn’t say, Kelly, it’s an outside event. I think our continuing concern continues to be — you know, everybody wants to hold President Putin and the Russian leadership accountable. Everybody supports the efforts that the Pres- — President Biden has been leading around the world to take — put in place crippling financial sanctions, and they have had an enormous impact,” the press secretary said.
“But what we are also mindful of is not taking steps that have — would have the impact of raising energy prices, raising oil prices, raising gas prices for the American public. And we also are mindful of doing things in a way that is unified with our partners around the world,” she said.
“Can you speak to how the President has steeled himself, hardened himself, if you will?” the reporter said.
“He’s made a commitment not to put American troops in a military position in Ukraine. You’ve outlined all the steps the U.S. and allies are taking. But he’s also watching what is happening, as are many Americans who are concerned about the atrocities that are taking place, the loss of life, the civilians that are being affected. Does the U.S. just watch this get worse? Is that what we should all be prepared for?” they said.
That question got the ire of Psaki.
“I would just argue we’re hardly ‘watching.’ We have been — we have provided a billion dollars in military and security assistance, including a range of defensive weapons that we have expedited delivery to the Ukrainian leadership and Ukrainian military,” the press secretary said.
“We have been the largest provider of economic and humanitarian assistance. We have rallied the world to stand up against President Putin. We are not “watching”; the President is leading the world in responding to this,” she argued.
“However, he is not going to put U.S. military men and women serving on the front lines of battle in Ukraine to fight Russia. That has never chan- — that has never been his plan, never been his policy, and he has no intention of doing that,” she said.
