FEBRUARY 19, 2024 Remarks by President Biden During Press Gaggle | Rehoboth Beach, DE St. Edmond’s Catholic Church Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

 FEBRUARY 19, 2024

Remarks by President Biden During Press Gaggle | Rehoboth Beach, DE

St. Edmond’s Catholic Church

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

THE PRESIDENT:  I spoke with Zelenskyy this afternoon to let him know that I was confident we were going to get that money to keep that country from being overrun by Russia.

 

You know, there’s so much at stake.  I learned — I watched the television the other night and one of the other Republican candidates saying I’ve never explained to the American people why NATO is so important. 

 

NATO is critical to our survival.  NATO has held — we have never been able to avoid a European conflict.  As long as there’s NATO, we’re — have allies — allies who are confident and have defended us.

 

And, by the way, the only time Article 5 has been invoked is the — when we were attacked on 9/11.  So, the idea that we’re going to walk away from Ukraine, the idea that we’re going to let NATO begin to split is totally against the interests of the United States of America and it is against our word we’ve given for — since Tru- — since all the way back to Eisenhower.

 

So, it’s about time we make sure that Congress come home and pass the legislation funding NATO.  It’s critical.  Our security depends on it.

 

Q    How — how confident are you that there isn’t another city that falls right after this if Congress acts on it?

 

THE PRESIDENT:  I’m not.  I’m not.  No one can be. 

 

Look, the Ukrainian people have fought so bravely and heroically.  They’ve put so much on the line.  And the idea that now when they’re running out of ammunition, we walk away — I find it absurd.  I find it unethical.  I find it just contrary to everything we are as a country.  So, I’m going to fight until we get it — get them the ammunition they need and the capacity they need to defend themselves.

 

Thank you very much.

 

Q    Have you heard anything else about what led to Navalny’s death, sir?

 

THE PRESIDENT:  I haven’t — I’ve heard several things.  I haven’t had them confirmed.  But the fact of the matter is: Putin is responsible, whether he ordered it or he is responsible for the circumstances he put that man in.  And he’s — it’s a reflection of who he is.  And it just cannot be tolerated.

 

I said we’d — there would be a price to pay.  He is paying a price already.  Since 2000 when I made that statement, Russians have had sanctions imposed on them and a whole range of other impacts. 

 

But it’s just — this is — look, the idea that after 70 years we have a NATO Alliance that has kept the peace, basically, in Europe, kept us out of the m- — the idea the transatlantic alliance is not overwhelmingly in our interest is bizarre.

 

It can only be — I — I just — I don’t understand.  I don’t understand.  There’s either a complete lack of knowledge of history or the lack of responsibility.

 

Thank you very much.

 

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.

 

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.