Joe Biden Tweet on Going 'Toe-to-Toe' With Putin Resurfaces Amid Ukraine Crisis

A tweet sent by President Joe Biden two years ago has resurfaced following Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognize two breakaway regions of Ukraine as independent.

Biden's official Twitter account sent a tweet about the then former vice president going "toe-to-toe" with Putin on February 21, 2020, and saying the Russian president didn't want Biden to win the White House.

On Monday—two years to the day that tweet was sent—Putin formally recognized the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) and ordered Russian troops to the regions for what he described as "peacekeeping functions."

A senior administration official told reporters on Monday that the Russian president's claims about peacekeeping operations "aren't fooling anyone."

Biden's account tweeted in February, 2020: "Vladimir Putin doesn't want me to be President. He doesn't want me to be our nominee."

"If you're wondering why—it's because I'm the only person in this field who's ever gone toe-to-toe with him," the then Democratic presidential candidate said.

That tweet appeared to refer to a meeting between Biden and Putin that took place in 2011.

In a 2014 interview with The New Yorker, Biden said he had told Putin at that meeting that he believed the Russian leader—who was then prime minister—had no soul.

Some conservatives seized on the 2020 tweet following Putin's decision on Monday, with Republican Representative Andy Biggs of Arizona's 5th district sharing the tweet and commenting: "You were saying...?"

Sean Spicer, who served as White House press secretary under then President Donald Trump, also weighed in, sharing Biden's tweet and adding: "How's this tweet aging?"

The tweet had garnered significant attention as of Tuesday morning with Twitter users sharing the 2020 post and offering their own criticism of the president amid the crisis in Ukraine.

In his 2014 New Yorker interview, then Vice President Biden described his meeting with Putin in 2011. Biden said he was physically very close to Putin and told him: "I said, 'Mr. Prime Minister, I'm looking into your eyes, and I don't think you have a soul.'"

Biden went on: "And he looked back at me, and he smiled, and he said, 'We understand one another.' This is who this guy is!"

Putin told NBC News in an interview in June 2021 that he did not recall that particular part of the conversation but added that Biden "probably has a good memory."

On Monday, Putin signed decrees recognizing the Ukrainian breakaway regions as independent states.

Biden signed an executive order on Monday imposing economic sanctions on the two breakaway regions and a further response is expected in coordination with U.S. allies. That response is likely to include more sanctions.

The U.K. and the European Union (EU) have pledged to impose sanctions on Russia, while U.K. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said on Tuesday morning that "the invasion of Ukraine has begun."

However, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said on Tuesday morning that he wouldn't say the situation was "a fully fledged invasion" at this time.

It remains to be seen what new sanctions the U.S. and allies will impose on Russia.

Newsweek has asked the White House for comment.