TOI World Desk
North atlantic treaty organisation (Nato) on Thursday defended US President Joe Biden after he made an embarrassing gaffe during the Nato summit in Washington.
During the press conference, President Biden made a notable gaffe when he mistakenly introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Biden accidentally said, “And now I want to hand it over to the president of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination, ladies and gentlemen, President Putin.”
Although Biden quickly corrected himself but the moment was quickly captured by reporters and raised the question about the same.
Responding to questions about a gaffle made by the US president, the Nato came out in his defence and said that this was just a “slip of tongue.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended US President Biden and said, “Slips of tongue happen, and if you always monitor everyone, you will find enough of them,” Scholz said. “But this does not change a single thing of what the US president stated very clearly in his speech.”
After German chancellor, French President Emmanuel Macron also backed US president and said that the slip of tongue happens.
We all slip up sometimes,” Macron said. “It’s happened to me and it could happen again tomorrow. I would ask for your indulgence,” Reuters reported.
Macron also said that the US president was “in charge” and on top of matters at a Nato summit with fellow leaders in Washington.
“I was able to talk with President Biden at length yesterday at dinner,” Macron told reporters. “I saw as always a president who is in charge, clear on the issues he knows well.”
Meanwhile, newly elected UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, before the summit gaffle, said that senility allegations against Biden were misguided and that the two allies covered wide ground for nearly one hour in the Oval Office, longer than expected.
“We did it at pace. He was on good form,” Starmer told British media, according to the Reuters.
Polish President Andrzej Duda, who had forged close ties with US former President Donald Trump but has appreciated Biden’s support for Ukraine, told reporters: “I talked with President Biden, and there is no doubt that everything is ok.”
Finnish President Alexander Stubb, asked if he had concerns about the United States, said that in democracies there is “always turmoil before elections.”
“I have absolutely no concern about the capacity of the current president of the United States to lead his country and to lead our fight for Ukraine and to lead NATO,” he said.
“The only thing I’m worried about is that the political climate in the United States right now is too toxic, is very polarized, and that doesn’t leave enough room for a civilized and constructive debate” on policy, he told reporters.
During the press conference, President Biden made a notable gaffe when he mistakenly introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Biden accidentally said, “And now I want to hand it over to the president of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination, ladies and gentlemen, President Putin.”
Although Biden quickly corrected himself but the moment was quickly captured by reporters and raised the question about the same.
Responding to questions about a gaffle made by the US president, the Nato came out in his defence and said that this was just a “slip of tongue.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended US President Biden and said, “Slips of tongue happen, and if you always monitor everyone, you will find enough of them,” Scholz said. “But this does not change a single thing of what the US president stated very clearly in his speech.”
After German chancellor, French President Emmanuel Macron also backed US president and said that the slip of tongue happens.
We all slip up sometimes,” Macron said. “It’s happened to me and it could happen again tomorrow. I would ask for your indulgence,” Reuters reported.
Macron also said that the US president was “in charge” and on top of matters at a Nato summit with fellow leaders in Washington.
“I was able to talk with President Biden at length yesterday at dinner,” Macron told reporters. “I saw as always a president who is in charge, clear on the issues he knows well.”
Meanwhile, newly elected UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, before the summit gaffle, said that senility allegations against Biden were misguided and that the two allies covered wide ground for nearly one hour in the Oval Office, longer than expected.
“We did it at pace. He was on good form,” Starmer told British media, according to the Reuters.
Polish President Andrzej Duda, who had forged close ties with US former President Donald Trump but has appreciated Biden’s support for Ukraine, told reporters: “I talked with President Biden, and there is no doubt that everything is ok.”
Finnish President Alexander Stubb, asked if he had concerns about the United States, said that in democracies there is “always turmoil before elections.”
“I have absolutely no concern about the capacity of the current president of the United States to lead his country and to lead our fight for Ukraine and to lead NATO,” he said.
“The only thing I’m worried about is that the political climate in the United States right now is too toxic, is very polarized, and that doesn’t leave enough room for a civilized and constructive debate” on policy, he told reporters.