Joe Biden on Russia: Tough Talk, Weak Action

Joe Biden ran as a tough-on-Russia candidate, but when push came to shove, his heavy rhetoric turned out to be nothing more than empty words. Since taking office, Joe Biden has repeatedly rewarded Putin and his allies with economic and political victories — including a one-on-one meeting between Biden and Putin in Geneva. Here’s a look at how Joe Biden’s weak action has failed to measure up to his tough talk since taking office.

Biden greenlights Putin’s pipeline project while cancelling American pipeline

Biden greenlighted the completion of a Russian pipeline that splits our European allies and increases Russia’s influence in the region, despite saying he’s been “opposed” to the pipeline “from the beginning.” 

Washington Post: “Critics of the pipeline, which would transport natural gas from Russia to Germany, view its imminent completion and operation as a major geopolitical coup for the Kremlin.”

Axios: “As Axios has previously reported, the completion of Nord Stream 2 would be a huge geopolitical win for Putin and give him substantial new leverage in Europe.”

In fact, back in January, WH Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that the President believed Nord Stream 2 was a bad deal for Europe. Not only were sanctions removed from the company building the pipeline, but sanctions were also removed from an executive of the company, who is a key Putin ally. 

Biden backs away from publicly addressing Russia’s treatment of Alexei Navalny after calling it an issue of “great concern”

Joe Biden has repeatedly claimed he is “very concerned” about Russia’s actions toward Navalny but backed away from aggressively and publicly addressing the issue months later.

Politico: “But Sullivan was pressed by host Dana Bash over why Biden isn’t demanding Navalny’s release or granting him medical attention at ‘every single opportunity,’ including in a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week or in announcing further sanctions against Russia on Thursday. Sullivan responded that the Biden administration sees diplomatic channels as the best way to advocate on behalf of Navalny.

“‘…we have judged that rather than just make general statements publicly, the best way to deal with this issue is privately and through diplomatic channels direct to the uppermost levels of the Russian government,’ Sullivan said.”

In March 2021, Jen Psaki said that the administration would not “hold back” in publicly addressing Russia’s treatment of Navalny. But Psaki changed her tune in April, arguing that addressing the Navalny situation privately was an example of “where conversations in private can be more effective.” 

Biden says the U.S. should “make it clear we would respond in kind” to Russian cyberattacks but ultimately presents muddled retaliation plans

Politico: “President Joe Biden promised in December that he would ‘not stand idly by’ after Russia’s latest massive cyberattack on the U.S.

“Well over 100 days later, his administration has yet to make it clear how hard it plans to punch back.”

Joe Gierut, Communications Director at America Rising PAC: “The Joe Biden who campaigned as being tough on Vladimir Putin is nowhere to be found. Instead, Biden has handed Putin economic and political victories – all the while Russian hackers launch cyber-attacks against American corporations and infrastructure.”