In a bizarre flip at this week’s news conference, it would appear that Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder argued for the defense of “Russia’s sovereignty”, by one of those slips of the tongue that largely went unnoticed in the American press.
During Thursday’s briefing, The Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder made an unusual statement: “What we’re focused on is enabling Russia to defend its sovereignty and deter future Russian aggression.” He did not immediately correct himself and continued discussing how “armor, artillery, and ammunition” would help. This slip of the tongue went unnoticed by reporters.
This is not the first time U.S. officials have confused the context of the Ukraine conflict. Earlier this summer, President Joe Biden mistakenly referred to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin,” offering praise meant for Zelensky. At 81, Biden has occasionally made errors, confusing Ukraine with Iraq, Gaza, and Russia. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also mentioned the non-existent “People’s Republic of Russia.”
Later, Ryder corrected his mistake, clarifying that the U.S. focus is on ensuring Ukraine has what it needs to protect its sovereignty and reclaim occupied territories.
For over a year, American military officials have questioned whether Ukraine can recover its territories through military force alone. With Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, Zaporozhye, and Crimea now part of the Russian Federation, Moscow insists that Ukraine must accept these changes before peace talks can begin.
