(Mark Pellin, Headline USA) As tensions mount internationally and concerns grow about a full-blown, world conflict erupting from Russia’s prolonged invasion of Ukraine, President Joe Biden on Tuesday did little to bolster confidence in his administration’s response to reports of a Russian-made missile being launched into Poland, as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy escalated the situation with inflammatory rhetoric.
After initially refusing to comment on the incident, Biden eventually indicated that the missile, which struck eastern Ukraine and killed two, was likely not launched by Russia.
NOW – Biden says "preliminary" information suggests it is "unlikely" missile that killed two in Poland was fired from Russia. pic.twitter.com/YthF2PLBXY
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) November 16, 2022
Zelenskyy called it a “very significant escalation” and demanded, “We must act…”
In this case, with Poland being a NATO-member, Zelenskyy’s royal “we” would likely include the United States, which Biden has said is committed to the aide and defense of the NATO alliance.
“Russian missiles hit Poland,” Zelenskyy declared assuredly. “How many times has Ukraine said that the terrorist state will not be limited to our country? It is only a matter of time before Russian terror goes further…This is a very significant escalation. We must act…”
The incident, which followed a large-scale Russian bombardment on parts of Ukraine in the wake of Moscow’s recent setbacks in its invasion, triggered a decision by Biden to call an emergency meeting of G-7 and NATO leaders.
During a talk with Poland President Andrzej Duda, Biden reaffirmed the United States’s ironclad commitment to NATO and “the two leaders said that they and their teams should remain in close touch to determine appropriate next steps as the investigation proceeds,” according to a White House readout of the phone call.
A Pentagon press secretary on Tuesday also reiterated that, “We have been crystal clear that we will defend every inch of NATO territory.”
Before Biden nukes Moscow, could someone please just double check and make sure the missiles that hit Poland were actually Russian? Is that asking too much?
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) November 16, 2022
While the Polish Foreign Ministry identified the weapon as being made in Russia, it could not be confirmed and Poland had “no conclusive evidence of who fired the missile, and investigations are underway,” Duda said, adding that, “Most likely, it was a Russian-made rocket.”
Other reports from anonymous U.S. officials indicated that the “missile was fired by Ukrainian forces at an incoming Russian one amid the crushing salvo against Ukraine’s electrical infrastructure Tuesday,” according to the Associated Press.
Ukraine pushed back against those reports, calling it Russian disinformation and propaganda.
“Russia now promotes a conspiracy theory that it was allegedly a missile of Ukrainian air defense,” tweeted Ukraine Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba. “Which is not true. No one should buy Russian propaganda or amplify its messages.”
The latest incident followed Biden on Monday asking Congress to approve provide upwards of $37 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine. That request was met from some with swift opposition, as reports this week revealed a link between the failed FTX cryptocurrency scheme and major Democrat donors and other shady political funding.
“Democrats AND Republican leadership all taking hundreds of millions in donations from FTX,” wrote Newsmax contributor Jenna Ellis. “No wonder the whole Ukraine funding nonsense received such bipartisan support from the swamp.”
I will vote NO to any additional funding to Ukraine.
Enough is enough, I will not stand for this corrupt money laundering operation.
— Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (@RepGosar) November 15, 2022
JUST IN – White House requests $37.7 billion in new Ukraine funding.
I guess that answers it. https://t.co/WbZGsBba0h
— Avi Yemini (@OzraeliAvi) November 15, 2022
