President Biden Mistakenly Refers to Zelensky as Putin During NATO Summit

During a recent NATO summit in Washington DC, US President Joe Biden raised eyebrows when he mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as ‘President Putin’, in an apparent mix-up with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Biden’s slip of the tongue occurred during an event where he intended to introduce Zelensky but momentarily confused the two leaders. Despite the initial error, Biden quickly corrected himself, with Zelensky playfully responding, ‘I’m better than Putin,’ prompting a light-hearted exchange between the two.

The gaffe, although swiftly rectified, has sparked discussions regarding Biden’s mental acuity and readiness for the upcoming US presidential election in November. Critics have also pointed out similar slip-ups, including a previous instance where Biden mistakenly referred to former President Donald Trump as ‘Vice President’ instead of addressing Vice President Kamala Harris.

Following his arrival in Ireland, Zelensky expressed gratitude to the country for its support for Ukrainian refugees and solidarity in the face of Russia‘s invasion. The Ukrainian leader’s visit to Ireland coincides with his efforts to garner international backing amid Russia’s ongoing aggressive military campaign.

As Biden navigates these diplomatic challenges, his political opponents, including Donald Trump, have seized on the recent mishap as ammunition against his reelection bid. Calls for Biden to step down in favor of a potentially younger candidate have emerged from within his own party, raising questions about his fitness for office at a critical time in global politics.