Biden Snaps At Reporter Who Points Out Sanctions Didn’t Stop Ukraine Invasion

On Thursday, President Biden claimed that “sanctions never deter” when asked by a reporter why his sanctions were unable to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin from invading Ukraine.

“Sir, deterrence didn’t work,” a reporter said. “What makes you think Vladimir Putin will alter course based on the action you’ve taken today?”

“Let’s get something straight. Do you remember, if you covered me from the very beginning, I did not say that, in fact, the sanctions would deter him,” Biden claimed. “Sanctions never deter. You keep talking about that. Sanctions never deter. The maintenance of sanctions, the maintenance of sanctions, the increasing the pain, and the demonstration why I asked for this NATO meeting today is to be sure that after a month, we will sustain what we’re doing, not just next month, the following month, but for the remainder of this entire year. That’s what will stop him.”

“You believe the actions today will have an impact on making Russia change course in Ukraine?” the reporter pressed.

“That’s not what I said. You’re playing a game with me,” Biden claimed. “I know. The answer is no. I think what happens is we have to demonstrate — the purpose, the single most important thing is for us to stay unified, and the world continue to focus on what a brute this guy is. And all the innocent people’s lives that are being lost and ruined, and what’s going on. That’s the important thing. But look, if you’re Putin, and you think that the Europe is going to crack in a month, or six weeks, or two months. Why not, they can take anything for another month. But we have to demonstrate. The reason I asked for the meeting, we have to stay fully, totally, thoroughly united.”

WATCH: Joe Biden SNAPS at reporter's question about effectiveness of sanctions and deterrence on Putin

CBS's @EenaRuffini: “Sir deterrence didn’t work”

Biden: “Let’s get something straight. I did not say sanctions would deter him. Sanctions never deter…“ pic.twitter.com/RRh6sf4uSt

— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) March 24, 2022

However, just days before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Vice President Kamala Harris said that the point of the sanctions “has always been and continues to be deterrence.”

BIDEN, TODAY: "No one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening."

HARRIS, SUNDAY: "The purpose of the sanctions has always been and continues to be deterrence." pic.twitter.com/gIhTmRpXJb

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) February 24, 2022

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki echoed Harris’ comments, saying that the purpose of the sanctions was to “prevent and deter a large-scale invasion of Ukraine.”

“Sanctions are not an end to themselves.  They serve a higher purpose.  And that purpose is to deter and prevent,” Psaki said. “They’re meant to prevent and deter a large-scale invasion of Ukraine that could involve the seizure of major cities, including Kyiv.  They’re meant to prevent large-scale human suffering that could involve tens of thousands of casualties in a conflict.  And they’re meant to prevent the installation of a puppet government, controlled by Moscow, that subjugates the will of Ukraine and prevents the people of Ukraine from choosing their own destiny and setting their own course.  That’s what this is all about.”