Biden Slips Up Again — This Time, With A Russian Makeover For Ukraine's Zelenskyy

In a recent slip-up, President Joe Biden mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “Vladimir” on Wednesday.

What Happened: During his address at the annual NATO summit in Lithuania, Biden mixed up Zelenskyy's name with the Russian leader and the U.S., Ukrainian adversary, Vladimir Putin.

"Vladimir and I…I shouldn't be so familiar," the president said during a press conference in Lithuania, quickly realizing his mistake moments after the slip-up.

"Mr. Zelenskyy and I talked about the kind of guarantees we could make in the meantime when I was in Ukraine and when we met in other places," he corrected himself as he stood feet from the Ukrainian leader.

See Also: Joe Biden Awkwardly Walks Away From Set As MSNBC Host Wraps Up Live Interview: ‘Bathroom Run?’

This incident took place a day after Zelenskyy expressed initial discontent about his country not receiving a timeline for NATO membership.

“Volodymyr” and “Vladimir” are distinct versions of the same name, sharing the meanings of “ruler of the world” or “ruler of peace.” However, in Ukraine, “Volodymyr” is the more prevalent variant of the name, while the other is often used in Russia. 

Biden's repeated embarrassing blunders have sparked debate about the 80-year-old leader's age, who is seeking a second term as president.

Just last month, Biden confused Ukraine and Iraq twice within just 12 hours. On one occasion, while speaking to the media, he mistakenly commented, “Putin is clearly losing the war in Iraq.”

See Also: Biden’s Parting Words At Connecticut Baffle Audience: ‘Alright, God Save The Queen, Man’

Last year, During his State of the Union address, Biden made an error by mistakenly referring to “Ukrainians” as “Iranians” while discussing Russian President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Biden had stated, “Putin may circle Kyiv with tanks, but he will never gain the hearts and souls of the Iranian people."

In the same year, he also inadvertently mentioned Russian troops pulling out of “Fallujah,” a city associated with a significant battle during the Iraq war, instead of intending to refer to Ukraine's Kherson.

Read Also: Trump Vows To Go After Biden Family If Re-Elected In 2024: ‘Now That The Seal Is Broken…’

(Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)