President Biden's Parallel Between Putin and Hamas Sparks Kremlin Displeasure

President Joe Biden's recent foreign policy address, drawing a comparison between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hamas in the context of Ukraine and Israel, has elicited a stern response from Kremlin officials. 

Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Kremlin, expressed dissatisfaction, stating, "We do not accept such a tone towards Russia and towards our president," as reported by Russian state media.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, currently serving as the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, took a more confrontational stance, criticizing American support for Ukraine and Israel. Medvedev contended that the substantial investment in weapons for both nations could potentially escalate to the deployment of nuclear weaponry.

Biden's assertion that the Hamas attack triggering Israel's conflict in Gaza parallels Putin's actions in Ukraine emphasized the common goal of eradicating neighboring democracies. He stated, "Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy — completely annihilate it."

This comparison has gained traction within European Union circles, with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemning both Russia and Hamas for deliberately targeting innocent civilians, including children, in their actions.

The trans-Atlantic argument contends that providing aid to Ukraine and Israel aligns with the security interests of the U.S. and its allies. Biden cited statements from Putin and Medvedev to reinforce this point while advocating for Congress to authorize additional military assistance to both nations. He highlighted Putin's previous remarks regarding Poland and Medvedev's characterization of Baltic states, all of which are NATO allies.

Medvedev, however, maintained that American support for Ukraine and Israel would lead to the eventual destruction of both nations. He also made controversial comments about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's stance on Orthodox priests, attributing it to unfounded motives.