Fox News’ Petery Doocy asked White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki about the effectiveness of a tweet from Secretary of State Antony Blinken in support of Ukraine.
On Saturday, Blinken tweeted, “I [Stand With Ukraine]. [The State Department] stands with Ukraine. The United States stands with Ukraine.”
I #StandWithUkraine. @StateDept stands with Ukraine. The United States stands with Ukraine. https://t.co/7Vj0amAf22
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 22, 2022
During a press briefing on Tuesday, Doocy pointed out that tweet and asked, “Has that ever worked at stopping an authoritarian regime from doing anything? A hashtag?”
“I will have to say that, unlike the last administration, we don’t think Twitter is the only means of engaging, or negotiating, or discussing important topics,” Psaki responded.
She continued, “But it is important for us to convey to the Ukrainian people who do view commentary through a range of forums — I don’t know how many are Fox News watchers maybe some of them — including social media that we stand with them, we support them and that includes in their efforts to protect the sovereignty of their country.”
Watch the video below:
“Unlike the last administration, we don’t think Twitter is the only means of engaging, or negotiating, or discussing important topics.”
— The Recount (@therecount) January 25, 2022
— WH Press Sec. Jen Psaki to Fox’s Peter Doocy about Sec. of State Blinken tweeting ‘I #StandWithUkraine’ pic.twitter.com/BgQtBJ2qPj
During a press conference on Wednesday, Biden predicted that Russia, which has amassed around 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders, would “move in” to the European nation.
“I’m not so sure he is certain what he is going to do. My guess is he will move in. He has to do something,” he told reporters. “He is trying to find his place in the world between China and the West.”
The Biden administration is preparing a “range of severe economic measures” to hit Russia with if it invades Ukraine.
Additionally, the president is reportedly considering sending U.S. troops to Eastern Europe to bolster NATO allies’ defenses and deter Russian aggression.
As The New York Times notes, “Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III has put 8,500 American troops on “high alert” for possible deployment to Eastern Europe.”
“‘High alert’ means the troops are now on what Defense Department officials characterized as a tighter leash, in case deployment orders come quickly. In some cases, officials said, units that have been prepared to deploy within 10 days must now be prepared to deploy within five days,” it explained.
