Biden: Russia’s Actions Mark the Beginning of Aggression Against Ukraine
As tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalate, the United States has announced new sanctions against Russia. The European Union is also imposing new sanctions on Russia, and Germany has announced that it has halted the Russian gas pipeline project to the country.
Joe Biden, the President of the United States, warned in a televised address about escalating tensions over Ukraine. He predicted that a large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine, its neighboring country, is imminent.
Biden said that Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, is poised with his actions in eastern Ukraine to forcibly seize other territories.
According to him, the United States will strengthen Ukraine’s defensive capabilities by sending military equipment and deploying its troops to Baltic region countries. Support for NATO allies will also continue.
The White House announced that the planned meeting between Biden and Putin is currently cancelled. The White House spokesperson said that reducing tensions between Russia and Ukraine is a prerequisite for such a meeting.
Anthony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, has also cancelled his scheduled meeting with Sergey Lavrov, his Russian counterpart, in Geneva. After speaking with Dmytro Kuleba, his Ukrainian counterpart, he said that such a meeting makes no sense under current circumstances.
Joe Biden said that aggression against Ukraine has begun and Russia apparently rejects any diplomacy.
The US President meanwhile announced new sanctions against Russia due to its approach toward Ukraine. Blocking sanctions will be imposed against two Russian banks and further measures will be taken in the financial sphere that will affect Russia’s state debt repayment.
Biden threatened that if the situation is further escalated by Russia, more sanctions will be imposed on the country.
The European Union is also imposing sanctions against Russia. The foreign ministers of the 27 member states of this union reached an agreement on these sanctions during their extraordinary meeting in Paris, which are to be implemented immediately.
Josep Borrell, responsible for foreign policy of the European Union, said these sanctions will create difficulties for Russia and will severely restrict the country’s access to financial markets.
The sanctions include measures against 27 individuals and institutions that have played a role in undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Germany and Britain have also reached an agreement on sanctioning Russia. Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany, announced that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, which is supposed to bring Russian gas to the country, has been suspended.
Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine and signed a support agreement with separatist militias in these regions.
He also called for the deployment of Russian military units to these areas, which the Russian Parliament also announced its approval of.
Source: DW
