Biden agrees to take ONE question from a pre-approved reporter after slip-ups: President says it's too early to find out whether Russia will move back from Kyiv at short press conference with Singaporean PM Lee
President Joe Biden welcomed Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to the White House Tuesday amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's growing influence in Asia.
The president and Lee both agreed to take one question during a 'press statement' after their meeting Tuesday afternoon, with Biden being asked by the Associated Press about his take on Russia's announcement it would pull back forces from Ukraine's capital Kyiv.
'We'll see, I don't read anything into it until I see what their actions are. We'll see if they follow through with what they're suggesting,' Biden answered.
He noted that negotiations were continuing throughout Tuesday, as he spoke with European leaders, including U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi earlier in the morning.
'There seems to be a consensus that - let's just see what they have to offer,' Biden said. 'We'll find out what they do, but in the meantime we're going to continue to keep strong the sanctions, we're going to continue to provide the Ukrainian military with their capacity to defend themselves, and we're going to continue to keep a close eye on what's going on.'
Biden's comments to the press came one day after he tried to explain what he meant when he said Saturday in Warsaw that Russian President Vladimir Putin 'cannot remain in power.'
That Q&A session led to more head-scratching, as Biden said he was expressing his 'moral outrage' when he made the unscripted remark, but clarified he wasn't calling on regime change.
President Joe Biden took one question from a reporter during a 'press statement' he made alongside Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (left) and PResident Joe Biden (right) participated in a press statement event Tuesday afternoon at the White House
Earlier, Biden greeted Lee in the Oval Office.
'The rules-based order is facing unprecedented challenges,' Biden said, seated alongside Lee. 'Russia's unprovoked and unjustifiable war against Ukraine is an urgent threat to both Europe and I believe the Indo-Pacific as well.'
Biden noted that 'borders can't be changed by force' and said every nation, large and small, had the 'rights to their sovereignty.'
'I want to thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, for Singapore's principled leadership in supporting the people of Ukraine,' the American president continued. 'I know it's not easy, but I want to thank you for it. You're a man of principle and you've stepped up every time that you've had to.'
Singapore stands out in the region by joining the United States and Western allies in sanctioning Russia for its actions against Ukraine.
Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (left) meets with President Joe Biden (right) Tuesday in the Oval Office
President Joe Biden (pictured) entertains Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on an unseasonably cold day in March
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore speaks at the top of his meeting with President Joe Biden Tuesday in the Oval Office
Biden - sitting in front of a blazing fire, as Tuesday was an unseasonably cold day for March in D.C. - said the two leaders would discuss the U.S.-ASEAN relationship, 'freedom of the seas' - code for China's claims in the South China Sea - promoting a return to democracy in Burma and sustainable economic growth between the two nations.
Lee thanked Biden for receiving him at 'this special moment in world affairs.'
'I'm sure you're completely seized with what's happening in Europe right now,' Lee said.
Lee called Singapore a 'very good partner' to the United States. 'And our relations are doing very well,' the prime minister added.
'We will, of course, exchange views also on Ukraine and what that means for Asia Pacific region,' Lee said.
Lee will be the first leader of a member nation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to visit Biden's White House.
'The President and Prime Minister Lee will be meeting at a very critical time, one in which the rules-based international order faces unprecedented challenge. And I think it's obviously shaped by Russia's unprovoked and unjustifiable war against Ukraine, which poses an urgent threat not only for Europe but also for the Indo-Pacific,' a senior administration official said Monday, ahead of the meeting.
Biden was supposed to travel to Asia later this spring for an ASEAN meeting, but that trip is now delayed due to scheduling conflicts.
'We're disappointed but we are very committed to looking for ways in which we can find a good time to schedule this,' the official said.
Biden will, however, host a summit of ASEAN leaders at the White House later in the spring.
Vice President Kamala Harris visited Singapore in August.
Lee will also visit with Harris Tuesday.
Lee spent time Monday at the Pentagon with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Biden and Lee last met on the sidelines of the G20 in Rome in October.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (left) greets Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (right) ahead of their meeting at the Pentagon Monday
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