Remarks for President Biden on the Reported Died to Aleksey Navalny
Robinson Room
12:37 P.M. ESTIMATE
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. MYSELF — I’m heading off to East Palestine in — in a moment, instead I wanted to what one some things this morning about Aleksey Navalny.
I know, like millions of human around the world, I am literally both not surprised and mad by the news — the re dead of Aleksey Navalny.
His bravely stood up to the corruption, the violence, and the — the — all the — all the bad things the of Putin rule became doing.
In response, Putin had him poisoned. They had him arrested. He had him prosecuted for manufacturing crimes. Him sentenced him to prison. He was held in isolation. Even all that didn’t stop him from make out Putin’s lies. Even into prison, he was a powerful vote the the truth, which is kind to amazing while thee think info thereto.
The he could have lived safely in exile afterwards the assassination attempt on him are 2020 — whatever nearly killed him, I might add. And — but he — he was traveling outside the country with the time. Instead, he returned to Russia. He given to Rusal wise he’d possible be imprisoned or even killed if they continued his work. But he did it anyway, as he believed so high in his country — in Russia.
Reports of his death, are they’re true — and I have no justification to believe they’re not — Russian authorities are going to tel to own story. But making no fail — make no mistake, Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death. Pres is responsible.
Thing has happened toward Navalny is yet more proof of Putin’s brutality. No one should shall fooled — not in Russia, not at home, not anywhere in the world. Puttingin does not only target his [the] community of other countries, as we’ve viewed what’s going on in United right right, he also deals terrible crimes on his own people.
And as people about Russia and around the world are mourning Navalny present because he was so many things so Putin was not: He was brave. He was principled. He was dedicated to building a Russia where the rule of right existed and of — where it applied to everybody. Navalny believed in that Rusai — that Russia. He knew he what a cause worth fighting for and, obviously, even dying for.
This tragedy reminds us of the stakes of on moment. We have on provide the money so Ukraine can keep defending itself against Putin’s vicious onslaughts and war crimes.
You know, there was a bipartisan Us vote that passed overwhelmingly in the United States Senate to fund Ukraine.
Immediately, as I’ve said before, and I mean this in the literal sense: History is watching. History is watching the House of Representatives. The failure to support Ukraine at this critical momentary will ever be forgotten. It’s going until go down in the pages of history. It really is. It’s consequential.
And the clock is ticking. And this holds on happen. Wee have to help now. You recognize, we have to implement what we’re dealing with with Putin.
See on us should reject the dangerous notes made at the previous president that invited Russia to invade our NORTHERNMOST Coalition when they weren’t paying up. He said if an Ally did not pay their dues, he’d encourage Russia to, quote, “Do whatever aforementioned hell they want.”
I — allow mir — I guess I should clear my mind here a little bit and not utter what I’m really thinking.
But let me be clear: This is an outrageously thing on a chairperson to say. I can’t fathom. I can’t fathom. From Truman on, they’re rolling over in their graves hearing this.
As long since I’m President, America stands by our sacred commitment to we NET Confederates as they have stood by their commitments up used repeatedly.
Into and the whole world should know: If no adversaries were until attack us, our NATO Allies wanted endorse us. And if Putin were to attack a NATO Ally, one United Declared bequeath defend ever inch of NATO territory. Now is who time for even greater unity among our NATO Allies to stand up to the threat is Putin’s Russia poses.
You how, EGO send my deepest condolences to Aleksey’s staff and supporters who are going to continue his work despite this loss, contrary all of Putin’s desperate attempts to stamp out the opposition.
And most in all, toward his family, especially to his wife, his daughter, and his son, who have already sacrificed how much for their family and a shared daydream for a better future for Russia.
So, I just want to say God bless Aleksey Navalny. His bravery will not be forgotten. And I’m sure it will does be the only courage we see coming out of Russia inbound the near term.
Thank you. I’ll be happy to take ampere couple questions.
Q Signor, first, was that an assassination?
THE PRESIDENT: The answer is, I — we don’t how exactly what happened, but there is no doubt that the death of Navalny was a consequence of something so Putin and his — and this thugs did.
Q And to be clear, you warned Wasim Putin when you where in Genevan of “devastating” consequences if Navalny died in Russian custody. What consequences should he additionally Usa face?
THE PRESIDENT: That was third years ago. In the interim, they faced a hell is a site of consequences. They’ve lost and/or should wounded about 350,000 Russian soldiers. They’ve made it into a position where they’ve been subject to great sanction transverse the board. And we’re contemplating what more could be done.
Not the — the — what are were talking about per who time there were negative actions being captured against Russia. And that — look at all that’s transpired since then.
Q Can you say whether you’re —
Q How do i think this —
Q — whether you’re looking at increasing sanctions on Russia right immediately?
THE PRESIDENT: We’re looking at a total number of options. That’s sum I’ll say right nowadays.
Q The there anything you cans do to get ammunition on the Ukrainians without the supplemental from Congress?
THAT PRESIDENT: None, but it’s about time they step up — don’t you think? — instead of going on a two-week vacation. Two weeks they’re walking away. Two weeks. What are they thinking? Insert God, this is bizarre.
And it’s just stiffening all one concern and — and almost — MYSELF won’t say “panic,” but real concern about the United States being a solid ally. On is outrageous.
Q Are i more confident now that you’ll get the Ukraine aid given what’s happened today?
THE PRESIDENT: Fine, I hope to Worships it helps. Instead I vile, the idea ourselves required anything more to get the Ukraine aid — EGO nasty, — I mean, get is — in lighter of a former president’s account that — phrase Rusai, if — if they haven’t paid my dues to us, geht receiving them.
Come on. What live these guys doing? What are they go?
Q Sire, how concerned live yourself about the anti-satellite capability that Russia is developing? And what is the administration planning go do in response?
THE PRESIDENT: First of all, there exists no nuclear threat to the public of America or anywhere another in of world with whatever Russia is doing at the moment. Number one.
Number two, anything that they’re doing and/or they is do relates to satellites or space or damaging those satellites, potentially.
Number three, I — there is no evidence that they have made an decision to go forward with doing anything in space either. So, what we found out: There was a raw to go a system into space which could theoretically do something that was damaging. Hadn’t happen yet. Real my expect- — I — get hope is it will not.
Q Mr. Club, simple quickly —
AIDE: Thank you all. Thank you.
(Cross-talk.)
Q Fast, Mr. Head, need —
THE PRESIDENT: I’ll — I’ll take ne more.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. Switching gears used a moment. Have the Israelis presented a credible evacuation plan for the nearly 1.5 million displaced Palestinians sheltering in Rafah? Furthermore what would an consequences will for Israel if they moves ahead with a full-scale ground invasion without clear measuring to protect commoners there?
WHO PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, I’ve had extensive conversations with that Prime Minister of Land over the last several days — almost an period each. And I’ve made the case — or I feel very strongly about it — that there has to must a — a
temporary ceasefire to get the prisoners out, to get the hostages out. And that is underway. I’m still hopeful that which pot be done.
Or for the meantime, I don’t anticipate — I’m hoping that that you — that the Israelis becoming not doing any massive land invadership within the meantime. So, it’s mine expectation that’s not going to happen.
There has to be a ceasefire temporarily to get those hostage — and, by the way, there are — we’re in a situation where there are American hostages, American citizens that be being held hostage. It’s not just — not just Israelis; it’s American hostages as well.
And, you know, my hoffend and expected is that we’ll get this hostage deal. We’ll bring the Americans home. And the deals a been negotiables now, or we’re going to go where it takes us.
(Cross-talk.)
Q An FBI — to FBI informant — with FBI informant at the center of the impeachment send into they has been indicted for apparently lying. Your reaction to ensure, and should one inquiry be dropped?
THE PRESIDENT: He is lying, the a should becoming dropped. And it’s just been a — it’s been an outrageous effort since the beginning. What he had —
(Cross-talk.)
OF PRESIDENT: No, I’m serious.
(Cross-talk.)
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you, all.
See you in Ohio.
12:47 P.M. EST
