In short remarks to reporters as he left for a weekend on the seaside in Delaware, Biden repeatedly mentioned that Individuals mustn’t journey to Ukraine at the moment.
“We do not know the place they’re, however I need to reiterate: Individuals should not go to Ukraine now,” Biden mentioned in response to a query from CNN’s MJ Lee on the White Home.
State Division spokesman Ned Worth mentioned the division is in touch with the households of lacking Individuals, in addition to with Ukrainian authorities and the Worldwide Committee of the Crimson Cross.
The US State Division informed the household of one of many lacking Individuals in Ukraine on Thursday that there’s potential proof that Drueke was captured, however was unable to confirm the photograph on the time, Bunny Drueke informed CNN. Alexander’s mom.
Drueke informed CNN’s Jake Tapper on “The Lead” that his son went to Ukraine to coach troopers there to battle Russia as a result of he “felt that in the event that they did not cease Putin now, he would get bolder with every success, and ultimately he would possibly find yourself on US shores.
On Thursday, a photograph of Drueke and Huynh surfaced behind a Russian navy truck, apparently confirming that they’d been captured by Russian forces north of Kharkiv final week. A Russian blogger posted the photograph on Telegram on Thursday, however CNN was unable to independently confirm when it was taken.
On Friday, movies surfaced on pro-Russian channels and social media that appeared to point out Drueke and Huynh being detained at an unknown location. It’s unclear who’s holding them.
In a brief, undated clip shared on a pro-Russian Telegram channel, ZOV Group, a person identifies himself as Drueke. In a separate video additionally undated on the Russian information channel Izvestia, Huynh says a few sentences.
Whereas the boys don’t seem to have any well being issues or to be handled harshly, each converse clearly underneath duress.
Worth mentioned Thursday that the USA was not in touch with Russia concerning the allegedly captured US residents as a result of they don’t but have “credible causes” to imagine the Russians have captured them and in addition as a result of Russia has not claimed to have captured them.
On Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed CNN that he is aware of nothing concerning the two American fighters.
CNN has repeatedly reached out to the Russian Protection Ministry for remark, however has but to obtain a response.
This story has been up to date with extra developments.
CNN’s Ellie Kaufman, Michael Conte, Jennifer Hansler and Mick Krever contributed to this report.
