Joe Biden mistakenly calls President Zelensky 'Vladimir' in awkward blunder
Joe Biden has raised further questions about his fitness for office after mistakenly calling Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky with Vladimir Putin
Reuters
Joe Biden has raised further questions about his fitness for office after mistakenly calling Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin.
The US president referred to Zelensky as "Vladimir" while praising the Ukrainian military for its fightback against Moscow's troops.
The president regularly uses cue cards in his public appearances as aides are reportedly worried about his regular slip-ups.
Speaking to G7 leaders as he announced a new security deal for Kyiv, Biden vowed to stand by Ukraine "as long as it takes".
The president regularly uses cue cards in his public appearances as aides are reportedly worried about his regular slip-ups
Reuters
It comes just one day after Zelensky launched a social media rant against his Western allies over what he called an "absurd" delay to setting out a pathway to his country's full membership of the NATO military alliance.
"It's unprecedented and absurd when time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine's membership. While at the same time vague wording about 'conditions' is added even for inviting Ukraine," Zelensky said.
"This means that a window of opportunity is being left to bargain Ukraine's membership in NATO in negotiations with Russia," he said.
"And for Russia, this means motivation to continue its terror."
However, during his speech Biden said: "We are going to help Ukraine build a strong and capable defence across land, air and sea," before he was ushered off stage.
The president also acknowledged that sometimes Ukraine was "frustrated" with the speed arms were being delivered but vowed that the US "is not going anywhere."
It comes after Biden dropped yet another blunder last month by declaring that Vladimir Putin is losing the war in Iraq.
The US President told reporters that a recent mutiny in Russia shows that his counterpart is “clearly” on the back-foot, but mistook Ukraine, the country invaded by Russia, for Iraq.
The president also acknowledged that sometimes Ukraine was 'frustrated' with the speed arms were being delivered but vowed that the US 'is not going anywhere.'
Reuters
Biden has also faced recent claims that his aides have been trying to avoid meeting with the 80-year-old Commander-in-Chief alone as he is prone to angry outbursts.
Two authors have interviewed numerous members of Biden’s inner circle who claimed the President flares up when he senses condescension or feels boxed in.
Alex Thompson, a reporter for Axios, wrote: “Behind closed doors, Biden has such a quick-trigger temper that some aides try to avoid meeting alone with him.
“Some take a colleague, almost as a shield against a solo blast.
“The President’s admonitions include: ‘God dammit, how the f**k don’t you know this?’, ‘Don’t f***ing b******t me!’ and ‘Get the f**k out of here!’, according to current and former Biden aides who have witnessed and been on the receiving end of such outbursts.”