Putin will not prevail in Ukraine war: Biden

WASHINGTON

US President Joe Biden said Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not prevail in his war with Ukraine.

"The United States is committed to standing with you to help Ukraine as it defends against Russia's onslaught of aggression. It’s clear that Putin will not prevail in this war. The people of Ukraine will prevail," Biden said during a meeting at the White House with Keir Starmer, the British prime minister.

Biden said he and Starmer would discuss work to secure a deal in the Middle East, the release of hostages, an immediate cease-fire, and an increase of the flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

He added that they would also talk “about the Indo-Pacific. No region is more important for our future, and I'm so proud of our AUKUS partnership with Australia, the last three years, we've made the region more free, open and secure," referring to the US partnership with Australia and the UK.

Starmer said he thinks the next few weeks and months could be "crucial" for Ukraine, and it is "very important" that they support Ukraine in this "vital war of freedom."

"And so, I look forward to discussing that with you the Middle East, of course, again, vital over the coming weeks and months and elsewhere in the world. I think that historically, we've shown the strength of our relationship, that we are strategically aligned.

"We have common cause on these global issues, and therefore it's very important for us to have this opportunity to talk them through, not just as a matter of fact but also the wider strategy that underpins them," he added.

This is Starmer’s second visit to the White House as prime minister to meet with Biden, whose term as president is due to end next January.

Biden dismisses Russia’s threat of war, tells reporter to ‘be quiet’

Tensions with the media briefly flared when Biden rebuked a British reporter for asking about Russian President threatening a wider war if Ukraine were to use long-range Western missiles.

When a Sky News correspondent asked about Putin’s warning, Biden – visibly irritated – snapped: "I say you be quiet until I speak. Okay? That's what I say. Good idea?"

But when the journalist pressed ahead, the president responded sharply: "You’ve gotta be quiet, I’m going to make a statement here, okay?"

Then, addressing Putin’s comments about a potential direct war with Russia, Biden said: "I don’t think much about Vladimir Putin."