US President Joe Biden says Russian President Vladimir Putin may put some advisers “under house arrest”
Washington:
US President Joe Biden on Thursday said Russian leader Vladimir Putin may be “isolated” and may have placed some of his advisers “under house arrest”.
In his first public remarks on the West’s assessment of the Kremlin’s tensions over the war in Ukraine, Biden also said he was “sceptical” about Moscow’s claims to be less on the offensive. in regions of the country.
“He appears to be self-isolating and there are some indications that he has fired or placed some of his advisers under house arrest,” Biden told reporters when asked about statements by British intelligence and US that Putin did not receive proper information from staff about difficulties in Ukraine.
Biden moderated his remarks, saying “there’s a lot of speculation” and that he doesn’t want to “put too much stock in it.”
He also said he wasn’t sure what the Russian military was doing in Ukraine after Moscow announced its withdrawal – seen as opening up the potential for broader de-escalation – from the capital Kyiv and another city.
Biden said that it is possible that any retreat from the cities – if it happens – is only ordered to allow an increase in attacks on another part of Ukraine, the eastern Donbas region.
“So far, there’s no clear evidence that he’s pulling all those forces out of Kyiv. There’s also evidence that he’s bolstering his army in the Donbas,” Biden said.
“I’m a bit skeptical. It’s an open question whether he’s really backing out.”
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