Jake Sullivan warned President Vladimir Putin on Sunday that there would be “appropriate consequences” after Russian troops shot dead an American journalist in Ukraine.
“Well, it’s obviously shocking and horrific,” Sullivan said in an interview with NBC’s Face the Nation on Sunday morning. “I just found out about it when I came on air here.”
“I will consult with my colleagues, we will consult with the Ukrainians to determine how this happened, and then measure and apply the appropriate consequences as a result of this,” Biden’s national security adviser added.
The White House did not immediately respond to ‘s request for President Joe Biden’s comments. It is also unclear whether the US will take additional action in response to the new border that Russia crossed on the 17th day of its invasion of Ukraine.
American freelance director Brent Renault, 51, was shot and killed while covering the war in Ukraine, Kyiv police said on Sunday.
Renault was in a car with other journalists in Irpin, Ukraine, when Russian troops opened fire. He was shot and one of his colleagues was wounded.
“I am clearly sad for this journalist – for the family of the journalist. But that’s what happens when you fail at the core of American security, which is deterring the bad guys from continued aggression,” Trump-era Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News Sunday host Maria Bartiromo.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan warned on Sunday that the US would “take action and take appropriate action as a result” of Russian troops shooting and killing an American journalist covering the war in Ukraine.
Brent Renault, a 51-year-old independent video journalist, was in a truck with other journalists in Irpen when Russian troops opened fire. He was shot
Renault was in Irpin, Ukraine, covering the refugee crisis as people flee the country on the 17th day of the Russian invasion. Pictured: Refugees fleeing Ukraine at the Wysne Nemecke border crossing on Sunday, March 13, 2022.
“The Biden administration has been lagging behind since last summer — we think of it now as less than three weeks have passed — but of course we have known for months that Vladimir Putin has been building up strength and building capacity,” he added. “We had to help the Ukrainians build up their strength and capabilities. And we were late, too slow, too little at every turn. We are still alive.
It was initially thought that Renaud was on assignment for The New York Times because he had a press badge that listed the paper as his publication. However, The Times clarified that he was not on assignment for the paper when he was shot.
Another American journalist who survived the attack spoke to a reporter for the Italian newspaper Internazionale from the hospital. He said Renault was shot in the neck and “had to be left behind.”
“We crossed the first bridge in Irpin. We were going to film how the other refugees were leaving, we got into the car. Someone offered to lead us to another bridge.
This badge was worn by freelance journalist Brent Renaud when he was shot dead in Irpin, Ukraine today while filming refugees crossing the border.
The other American journalist in the truck was named only as Juan. He is shown in the hospital talking to an Italian newspaper about how they were driving across the bridge when Russian troops opened fire on them after the checkpoint.
“We crossed the checkpoint and they started shooting at us. The driver turned around, there were two of us. My friend Brent Renault.
“He was shot and left. I saw that he was wounded in the neck. We were divided, he said.
A journalist who identified himself only as Juan said he was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.
Sullivan said Sunday: “I’ll just say it’s part and parcel of what was the brazen aggression by the Russians as they targeted civilians, hospitals, places of worship and journalists.” .’
“The United States has worked hard to hold Russia accountable by imposing the most far-reaching sanctions ever imposed and by providing military assistance to the Ukrainians to be able to stop the Russian advance,” he continued.
He warned: “Obviously we will be watching this latest development very closely and responding accordingly.”
PBS reporter Jane Ferguson, based in Ukraine, tweeted: “Just left a roadside spot near Irpin where the body of American journalist Brent Renault was lying under a blanket. Ukrainian doctors at that time could no longer help him.
Outraged Ukrainian police officer: “Tell America, tell the world what they did to a journalist.”
However, The Times released a statement clarifying that although Renault had worked for them in the past, he was not in Ukraine on their assignment.
“We are deeply saddened by the news of the death of Brent Reno. Brent was a talented photographer and filmmaker who worked with The New York Times for many years.
Reno with his brother, another director. The couple have a background in conflict zones and have been known to film refugees crossing the border as they were killed.
“Although he has collaborated with The Times in the past (most recently in 2015), he has not been on The Times assignment in Ukraine.
“Early reports that he worked for The Times were circulated because he wore a Times Press badge that was issued for appointment many years ago,” deputy managing editor Cliff Levy said in a statement.
The White House has not commented on Renault’s death.
President Biden has taken a firm stand against sending US troops into conflict.
Instead, he imposed economic sanctions on Putin along with the rest of the Western world and provided Zelensky with weapons and assistance.
Renault was from Tennessee. It is unclear if he is married or has a family.
New York Times deputy managing editor Cliff Levy tweeted that Renault was not on assignment for the newspaper when he was killed.