Biden Draws 'Annihilate Neighbouring Democracy' Parallel Between Hamas And Russian President Putin

US President Joe Biden has said that Palestinian militant group Hamas and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are the same in the way that both to "annihilate" democracies.

US President Joe Biden.

Source : Getty Images

Israel-Hamas War: In a rare Oval Office address, United States President Joe Biden has drawn a parallel between Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and the Palestinian militant group Hamas amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza war. The President said that Putin and Hamas are different threats, but they both want to completely "annihilate" democracies, adding that he refuses to let that happen at all.

"Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin represent different threats but they share this in common: they both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy," Biden said in the prime-time speech, as quoted by AFP. The President was referring to the war in Ukraine that Russia began in February 2022, and is still underway.

"We can't let petty partisan angry politics get in the way of our responsibility as a great nation. We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen," he added. 

VIDEO | "They (Ukrainians) are succeeding. When (Russian President Vladimir) Putin invaded Ukraine, he thought he could take Kyiv and all of Ukraine in a matter of days. Over a year later, Putin has failed and he continues to fail. Kyiv still stands because of the bravery of the… pic.twitter.com/MCaQkXmZCN

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 20, 2023

Biden said he would ask Congress to approve funding to help Ukraine and Israel, adding that "this is a smart investment that's going to pay dividends for American security for generations".

"Tomorrow I'm going to send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund America's national security needs to support our critical partners including Israel and Ukraine," he said in his second Oval Office presidential address. 

"American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us, America, safe. American values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with," the 80-year-old Democrat said. "America is a beacon to the world. Still. Still," he added.

The White House recently announced a $100 billion package that would include funding for Israel in its war with Hamas and also for Ukraine's battle against Russian invasion. Recalling the effect of the Hamas attack, Biden said that more than 1,300 people have been slaughtered in Israel, including at least 32 American citizens, scores of innocents from infants to elderly grandparents, Israelis and Americans taken hostage.