Joe Biden’s big blunder: how the war in Ukraine became a global disaster | Simon Tisdall

Failure to contain the conflict has led to huge suffering and geopolitical shifts. Why didn’t the US commit to Nato?

Reflecting the instincts of a cold war veteran, Joe Biden’s strategy was familiar: contain the conflict. When the US president spoke in Warsaw in March 2022, a month after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he drew a red line at Vladimir Putin’s toes. “Don’t even think about moving on one single inch of Nato territory,” he warned.

The western allies would provide weapons and aid to Kyiv, impose sweeping economic and financial sanctions on Moscow and reduce the rouble to “rubble”, Biden vowed. Though Ukraine is not a Nato member, the US would help the country win this symbolic battle for freedom and democracy. But it would not directly confront Russia unless Russia first attacked Nato.

Topics

Joe Biden’s last-gasp missile decision is momentous for Ukraine – but Putin will retaliate | Simon Tisdall
World - The Guardian - 3 days ago
Joe Biden’s overdue missile consent for Ukraine
Business - Financial Times - 3 days ago
Donald Trump is a superspreader of a craziness that has split America in two | Simon Tisdall
World - The Guardian - November 2
The west’s reckless escalation of the war in Ukraine will cause more suffering, for no strategic gain | Simon Jenkins
World - The Guardian - 7 hours ago
North Korean troops in Ukraine show the war’s global stakes
Politics - The Hill - October 25
What should Biden do with his remaining time? Get a peace deal done in Ukraine | Simon Jenkins
World - The Guardian - November 12
As Trump Looms, Biden Makes a Twilight Pitch on Ukraine to Global Leaders
World - The New York Times - 2 days ago
Russia warns of world war after Biden's decision on missiles for Ukraine
Top stories - CBS News - 3 days ago

Joe Biden’s big blunder: how the war in Ukraine became a global disaster | Simon Tisdall

Topics

Related

Joe Biden’s last-gasp missile decision is momentous for Ukraine – but Putin will retaliate | Simon Tisdall

Joe Biden’s overdue missile consent for Ukraine

Donald Trump is a superspreader of a craziness that has split America in two | Simon Tisdall

The west’s reckless escalation of the war in Ukraine will cause more suffering, for no strategic gain | Simon Jenkins

North Korean troops in Ukraine show the war’s global stakes

What should Biden do with his remaining time? Get a peace deal done in Ukraine | Simon Jenkins

As Trump Looms, Biden Makes a Twilight Pitch on Ukraine to Global Leaders

Russia warns of world war after Biden's decision on missiles for Ukraine

More from The Guardian

Putin ‘has no interest in peace’, says Zelenskyy, as US accuses Russian leader of ‘escalating at every turn’ – Ukraine war live

‘Obscene’: Anger after cost of King Charles’s coronation revealed

ICC issues arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged Gaza war crimes

Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro charged with plotting coup d’état

Matt Gaetz withdraws from consideration to be Trump’s attorney general