Biden says the US will not hesitate to increase costs for Russia

President Joe Biden on Thursday warned Moscow that the United States would not hesitate to increase Russia’s costs and defend US interests in its first major foreign policy speech since taking office.

“I have made it very clear to President Putin in a very different way from my predecessor that the days of the United States over in the face of Russian aggressive action, interfering with our election, cyber attacks, the poisoning of its citizens, are over. is, “Biden said. said.

“We will not hesitate to increase the cost to Russia and defend our vital interests and our people, and we will be more effective in dealing with Russia if we work in coalition and coordination with other similar partners,” the president said.

Biden has demanded the release of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, who was detained in Moscow last month and sentenced to more than two years in prison. Navalny was poisoned last year and recovered in Germany for months. He blames the Kremlin for his poisoning.

“Mr Navalny, like all Russian citizens, is entitled to his rights under the Russian constitution,” Biden said. “He is targeting the exposure of corruption and should be released immediately and unconditionally.”

Navalny’s detention has led to major protests in Russia over the past two weekends. Thousands of protesters were arrested by Russian police.

“Russia’s efforts to suppress freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are a matter of great importance to us and the international community,” Biden said.

Biden’s administration is facing increasing pressure to impose sanctions on Russia over Navalny’s poisoning. The United Kingdom and the European Union imposed sanctions last year.

The White House is reviewing other issues related to Russia, including the collapse of SolarWinds, reports of abundance that Russia has placed on U.S. forces in Afghanistan, and possible interference in the election, and will determine its response based on its findings.