Gabbard: Ukraine conflict avoidable if U.S. had recognized Russia concerns about Ukraine's NATO entry

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Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard tweeted Wednesday as Russian forces moved into Ukraine that the conflict could have possibly been avoided if Russian concerns about Ukraine joining NATO had been previously addressed. 

"This war and suffering could have easily been avoided if Biden Admin/NATO had simply acknowledged Russia’s legitimate security concerns regarding Ukraine’s becoming a member of NATO, which would mean US/NATO forces right on Russia’s border," Gabbard tweeted late Wednesday night. 

Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii

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Gabbard’s tweet was retweeted over 10,000 times and liked over 30,000 times but also earned sharp pushback on Twitter. 

"Seen this argument below in various places & it’s simply not true," Republican Sen. Marco Rubio responded. "A pledge that #Ukraine would never join NATO was not Putin’s only demand. As recently as last week he once again demanded NATO leave every country that joined after 1997 including Bulgaria, Romania & 12 others."

"No," Fox News contributor Guy Benson tweeted. 

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Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii

"Holy shit, this is the most UnAmerican, undemocratic, obviously from a Russian operative tweet I have ever seen, @TulsiGabbard needs to get TF out of this country," comedian Christopher Titus tweeted. 

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Gabbard’s tweet came shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a "special military operation" in Ukraine early Thursday morning and videos and photos surfaced on social media purportedly showing the reality of war in Europe. As the sun rose, sirens sounded near Kyiv as the Ukrainian president declared martial law across the country. 

Ukrainian service members take part in tactical drills at a training ground in an unknown location in Ukraine, in this handout picture released Feb. 22, 2022.   (Press service of the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff/Handout via REUTERS)

In the lead-up to the invasion, Putin expressed several grievances with Ukraine and the United States, including the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO, which the United States has not taken off the table despite requests from Russia to do so. 

President Biden condemned Putin after the country carried out military operations in Ukraine.

"The world will hold Russia accountable," Biden said in a pair of tweets Wednesday, moments after Russia carried out the military action.

"President Putin’s actions demand a firm response. That’s why we’re imposing full blocking sanctions on VEB and Russia’s military bank, cutting off Russia from western financing, imposing sanctions on elites, and more," Biden added in another tweet. "We will continue to escalate sanctions if Russia escalates."

Fox News’ Jon Street, Peter Hasson and Lawrence Richard contributed to this report