US President Joe Biden has mixed up Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky with Russian President Vladimir Putin during an event in Washington, DC.
The embarrassing gaffe occurred on Thursday when Biden was hosting the launch of the so-called Ukraine Compact, an initiative aimed at concluding bilateral security agreements with Kiev.
Flanked by NATO and EU leaders, the US president delivered a short speech and was about to hand over the podium to Zelensky.
“And now I want to hand it over to the president of Ukraine who has as much courage as he has determination,” Biden said while inviting Zelensky to speak. But instead of introducing him by name, Biden unexpectedly told the audience: “Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin!”
Apparently realizing his mistake, Biden returned to the podium and tried to correct himself, saying: “President Zelensky! I’m so focused on beating Putin, we [have] to worry about it… anyway… mister president.”
Zelensky interjected with “I’m better,” to which Biden replied, “You are a hell lot better.”
During a press conference later that evening, Biden mixed up his own vice president, Kamala Harris, with his 2024 election rival and Republican frontrunner, former President Donald Trump. “Look I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president if she was not qualified to be president,” he told reporters.
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