Biden Leaves Putin Personally Unsanctioned, Refuses SWIFT Ban as Russia Invades: “Let’s Have a Conversation in Another Month”

On 2/24/2022, as Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Biden announced sanctions that left Putin personally untouched and excluded Russia from the SWIFT international payment system — the step Ukraine had begged for. When CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked “Why not sanction him today, sir?” Biden refused to answer and called on a different journalist. Biden insisted the sanctions “exceed SWIFT” and told reporters: “Let’s have a conversation in another month or so to see if they’re working.” The video also featured flashbacks of Biden and Obama dismissing Russia as a threat.

Putin Personally Unsanctioned

Despite Biden previously saying personal sanctions on Putin were “on the table,” the sanctions package announced on the day of the invasion did not target Putin personally. A reporter confronted Biden directly.

“You recently said that the idea of personally sanctioning President Putin was on the table. Is that a step that you’re prepared to take?” the reporter asked.

“It’s not a bluff. It’s on the table,” Biden said.

“Why not sanction him today, sir?” Collins pressed.

Biden did not answer and moved to a different reporter.

No SWIFT Ban

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and other officials had pleaded for the West to cut Russia off from SWIFT. Biden acknowledged the exclusion was deliberate. “You didn’t mention SWIFT in your sanctions. Is there a reason why the US isn’t doing that?” a reporter asked.

“The sanctions that we’ve imposed on all their banks have equal consequence, maybe more consequence, than SWIFT,” Biden insisted. “Number two, it is always an option. But right now, that’s not the position that the rest of Europe wishes to take.”

When pressed further — “Given the full-scale invasion, respectfully, sir, what more are you waiting for?” — Biden doubled down. “The sanctions we’ve imposed exceed anything that’s ever been done. Let’s have a conversation in another month or so to see if they’re working."

"No One Expected Sanctions to Prevent Anything”

In a revealing exchange, Biden appeared to undercut months of administration messaging about sanctions as a deterrent. “Sanctions clearly have not been enough to deter Vladimir Putin to this point. What is going to stop him?” a reporter asked.

“No one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening,” Biden said — contradicting VP Harris, who just days earlier had said sanctions would “absolutely” deter Putin. “It has to show — this is going to take time and we have to show resolve so he knows what’s coming.”

A reporter pressed: “Sanctions cannot stop President Putin. What penalty can?”

“I didn’t say sanctions couldn’t stop him,” Biden said. “The threat of the sanctions and imposing the sanctions and seeing the effect of the sanctions are two different things.”

The Obama-Biden Russia Record

The video included revealing flashbacks. Biden in a 2012 debate mocking Mitt Romney: “Governor Romney’s answer was incredibly revealing. He acts like he thinks the Cold War is still on. Russia is still our major adversary. I don’t know where he’s been.” Biden had argued Russia was “working closely with us” and moving toward the West.

Biden was also shown praising Putin years earlier: “I’m close to amazed by how far Putin seems to have come. He seems to have thrown his lot with the West. I don’t think anybody since Peter the Great has made such a significant initial move to the West."

"Our Forces Will Not Fight in Ukraine”

Biden drew a clear line on military involvement. “Our forces are not and will not be engaged in the conflict with Russia in Ukraine. Our forces are not going to Europe to fight in Ukraine, but to defend our NATO allies and reassure those allies in the East,” Biden said.

Energy Payments Exempted

In a detail that drew criticism, the administration acknowledged it had “specifically designed” the sanctions to allow Russian energy payments to continue. “In our sanctions package, we specifically designed to allow energy payments to continue,” an official said. “We are closely monitoring energy supplies for any disruption.”

Key Takeaways

Biden left Putin personally unsanctioned on the day of the full-scale invasion and refused SWIFT exclusion, saying Europe did not support it.
When asked why he didn’t sanction Putin that day, Biden refused to answer and moved to another reporter.
Biden said “no one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening” — contradicting Harris, who days earlier said they would “absolutely” deter Putin.
The sanctions were specifically designed to allow Russian energy payments to continue, exempting the revenue stream funding Putin’s war.
Flashbacks showed Biden and Obama mocking Romney’s 2012 warning that Russia was America’s top adversary and Biden praising Putin’s “move to the West.”

Transcript Highlights

The following is transcribed from the video audio (unverified — AI-generated from audio).

Why not sanction him today, sir? Why not sanction him today?
The sanctions we’ve imposed on all their banks have equal consequence, maybe more consequence, than SWIFT. But that’s not the position the rest of Europe wishes to take.
No one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening. This is going to take time.
Let’s have a conversation in another month or so to see if they’re working.
Governor Romney acts like he thinks the Cold War is still on. Russia is still our major adversary. I don’t know where he’s been.
In our sanctions package, we specifically designed to allow energy payments to continue.

Full transcript: 1258 words transcribed via Whisper AI.