Retired Army Gen. Jack Keane said President Joe Biden missed an opportunity in his first State of the Union when addressing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Biden “squandered” a chance to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin directly in his address and let “Ukrainians know that we’re staying with them,” Keane said on Fox News’s The Ingraham Angle.
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“I thought he really missed a real opportunity, squandered it, I mean to talk to Putin and also talk to the Ukrainian people,” Keane said. “What he should have just said unequivocally is we are not going to let this stand.”
Keane added that Biden should have said “this is much more than about sanctions, and we’re going to stay there and help these people for as long as it takes.”
Another element that Keane thought was missed in the address was setting the stage for what the retired general said was “likely a humanitarian crisis” as Russian forces continue to attack Ukraine.
The president began his speech talking about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He declared that “freedom will triumph over tyranny” and said Putin “will never weaken the resolve of the free world.” Biden also touted U.S. support for Ukraine, such as bruising sanctions against Russian oligarchs, and announced a ban on Russian flights in U.S. airspace. In addition, the president vowed that U.S. troops would not participate in the conflict.
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Keane did give Biden positive marks for the beginning of his address, which he considered “pretty direct.”
“His tone was certainly more aggressive. I think it was somewhat forced, to be frank,” Keane commented.
