Furious Biden blamed Obama's missteps for Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, claims new book

WASHINGTON, DC: It looks like President Joe Biden had some strong feelings about how the situation with Ukraine has escalated over the years.

In a shocking revelation from Bob Woodward’s upcoming book 'War,' Biden reportedly pointed fingers at none other than his former boss Barack Obama for some of the key missteps that led to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine - the biggest conflict Europe has seen since World War II.

“They f—ked up in 2014,” Biden allegedly told a friend during a candid moment, as detailed in the book that was previewed by CNN. The 81-year-old president didn't hold back in voicing his frustrations. “That’s why we are here. We f**ked it up. Barack never took [Russian President Vladimir] Putin seriously," he added.

Biden added, “We did nothing. We gave Putin a license to continue! Well, I’m revoking his f**king license!”

It seems the Ukraine situation really hits close to home for Biden. Back in 2014, when Russia first annexed Crimea, Biden was serving as Obama’s vice president and was even tasked with being the point person on Ukraine. But it appears he believes the administration didn’t do enough at the time to counter Putin’s aggressive moves.

Crimea, Obama's sanctions, and missed Ukraine opportunities

Looking back at 2014, things were already heating up in Ukraine. After Moscow-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted during the Revolution of Dignity, Putin wasted no time. Russia quickly took control of the Crimean Peninsula and held onto it despite Ukraine’s attempts to resist, including efforts like restricting water to the area.

At the time, Obama’s administration responded with sanctions and worked on strengthening Ukraine’s military.

However, some — including Biden — believe it wasn’t enough. Obama notably stopped short of sending lethal military weapons to Ukraine, something his successor Donald Trump would later do. Over the years, tensions between Russia and Ukraine only escalated and eventually led to Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Obama’s approach to Russia had always been a bit softer. He even worked toward a “reset” with Moscow, particularly during the years when Putin stepped away from the presidency between 2008 and 2012.

But many still remember that infamous hot mic moment in 2012 when Obama told then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he’d have “more flexibility” on missile defense after the election.

Obama’s softer stance on Russia became a political talking point, especially during his 2012 debate against Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Obama even mocked Romney’s stance on Russia. “The 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because the Cold War’s been over for 20 years," he said.

But in hindsight, some feel that downplaying Russia’s threat was a major mistake.

Bob Woodward's book reveals Biden’s personal battles

Biden’s frustrations don’t stop with Obama’s handling of Russia. Another bombshell in Woodward’s book revolves around Biden’s dissatisfaction with his own attorney general, Merrick Garland. According to War, Biden confided to a friend that he “should never have picked Garland. This is never going to f**king go away.”

This came as Garland’s Justice Department was pursuing charges against Biden’s son Hunter Biden for a slew of legal troubles, including federal gun charges and tax fraud, the New York Post reported.

Hunter, 54, has been in the spotlight for years due to his controversial business dealings — including his involvement with Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian natural gas company. This entanglement even sparked investigations by congressional Republicans.

At one point, Biden himself bragged about pushing Ukrainian officials to fire their prosecutor-general Viktor Shokin in exchange for $1 billion in US aid. Shokin later revealed he was close to investigating Burisma.

Despite Hunter’s legal woes (which now include being found guilty by a jury of federal gun charges), Biden has publicly stated that he won’t pardon his son.

That said, Woodward’s 'War' promises to deliver an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes look at Biden’s presidency — covering some of the most critical moments of his time in office. From the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan to the tense confrontations with Putin, the book features hundreds of hours of interviews with those directly involved.

Beyond the big international crises, 'War' also delves into Biden’s personal battles, including his decision to step aside from the 2024 campaign and the ongoing drama surrounding his son Hunter’s legal problems.

'War' is set to hit shelves on October 15.