President Joe Biden sends tensions in Ukraine soaring by appearing to ‘invite’ Russia to invade

U.S. PRESIDENT Joe Biden sent tensions in Ukraine soaring yesterday by appearing to “invite” Russia to invade.

Sleepy Joe dropped a gigantic clanger by suggesting Russia might not face devastating sanctions if it only made a “minor incursion”.

The jaw-dropping error — in his first press conference in 78 days — led Ukraine to fear Biden had cut a secret deal with Vladimir Putin.

And the ruthless Russian President last night looked almost certain to launch a limited attack — always his preferred option.

Biden, 79, said: “Russia will be held accountable if it invades. And it depends on what it does.

"It’s one thing if it’s a minor incursion and we (Nato) end up having to fight about what to do and what to not do.

"But if they actually do what they’re capable of, it is going to be a disaster for Russia if they further invade Ukraine.”

The comment revealed America’s hand in a political poker game which could escalate into World War Three.

Befuddled Biden was surprised when his words were read back to him.

A journalist asked if the Democrat was giving “permission for a minor incursion” by Russia.

The president laughed and said: “Good question. It did sound like that, didn’t it . . . ”

Ukraine’s leaders believe Putin may now bring forward plans to invade within days.

A rocket and artillery blitz to seize a land corridor in Donbas, east Ukraine, is expected as 127,000 Russian troops mass on the border.

But PM Boris Johnson quickly stepped in to warn off the Kremlin.

He said: “Be in no doubt, if Russia were to make any kind of incursion into Ukraine whatsoever, that would be a disaster, not just for Ukraine, but for Russia.

“It’d be a disaster for the world. The UK stands behind the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine.”

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the West is in a new Cold War with Russia and China.

'WORLD DISASTER'

She urged Putin to “desist and step back from Ukraine before he makes a massive strategic mistake”.

White House aides later rushed to “clear up” Mr Biden’s disastrous remarks.

They said by “incursion” he meant a cyber attack rather than invasion.

Aides added that any Russian military move would be met with a “swift, severe and united response”.

Analysts say Putin does not want a protracted war that could leave thousands of Russians dead.

But a “smash and grab” raid could wring concessions from the West and unseat pro-Nato Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Russia’s build up for war continued last night as three amphibious assault ships sailed through the English Channel to reinforce its Black Sea fleet.

The Ropucha-class landing ships were escorted by HMS Dragon.

The independent Conflict Intelligence Team reported Russian military hardware had been detected in Belarus, 24 miles from Ukraine.