Speech by President Biden announcing the response to Russia's actions in Ukraine

 

 

                                                              THE PRESIDENT: You're trying to decide, huh? (Laughter.)

Well, good afternoon. Yesterday, Vladimir Putin recognized two regions of Ukraine as independent states and falsely claimed that these regions are no longer part of Ukraine and its sovereign territory. Simply put, Russia has just announced that it is cutting off most of Ukraine.

Last night, Putin allowed Russian troops to deploy in the region. Today, he claimed that these regions actually extend deeper than the two territories he recognized, claiming large territories that are now under the jurisdiction of the Ukrainian government.

In my opinion, he justifies the seizure of a larger area by force. And if we listen to his speech last night - and many of you have done so - I know he is creating arguments to go much further.

This is the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he marked it and asked permission from his Duma.

So let's get started - so I'm going to start retaliating, far beyond the steps we and our allies and partners took in 2014. And if Russia goes further with this invasion, we are ready to go further - with sanctions.

Who, in God's opinion, gives Putin the right, in his view, to declare new so-called countries in the territory that belonged to his neighbors? This is a gross violation of international law and requires a firm response from the international community.

Over the past few months, we have coordinated closely with our NATO allies and partners in Europe and around the world to prepare for this response. We talked all the time, and I told Putin face to face - a month or more ago - that we will act together and immediately as soon as Russia moves against Ukraine.

Now Russia is undoubtedly moving against Ukraine, declaring these independent states.

So today I am announcing the first tranche of sanctions to impose costs on Russia in response to its actions yesterday. They have been closely coordinated with our allies and partners, and we will continue to increase sanctions if Russia continues to escalate.

We are imposing full blocking sanctions on two major Russian financial institutions: VEB and their military bank.

We are imposing comprehensive sanctions on Russia's sovereign debt. This means that we have cut off the Russian government from Western funding. It can no longer collect money from the West and can no longer trade its new debts in our or European markets.

Starting tomorrow [today] and continuing in the coming days, we will also impose sanctions on Russian elites and their families. They are taking advantage of the Kremlin's corrupt policies, so they must share the pain.

And because of Russia's actions, we have worked with Germany to ensure that Nord Stream 2, as I promised, does not move forward.

As Russia considers its next step, we have also prepared our next step. Russia will pay an even higher price, including additional sanctions, if it continues its aggression.

The United States will continue to provide defense assistance to Ukraine. And we will continue to strengthen and encourage our NATO allies.

Today, in response to Russia's announcement that it will not withdraw its forces from Belarus, I authorized additional movements of American forces and equipment already deployed in Europe to strengthen our Baltic allies, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Let me explain: this is a completely defensive action on our part. We do not intend to go to war with Russia. However, we want to send a clear signal that the United States, together with our allies, will defend every inch of NATO territory and fulfill the commitments we have made to NATO.

We still believe that Russia is preparing to go much further by launching a massive military attack on Ukraine. I hope I'm wrong about that - I hope we're wrong about that. But Russia has only stepped up its threat against the rest of Ukraine, including major cities and the capital, Kyiv.

More than 150,000 Russian troops surround Ukraine. And, as I said, Russian troops are staying in Belarus to attack Ukraine from the north, including military planes and offensive missile systems.

Russia has brought troops closer to Ukraine's border with Russia. Russia's naval vessels are maneuvering in the Black Sea south of Ukraine, including landing craft, missile cruisers and submarines.

Russia has moved supplies of blood and medical equipment to its borders. You don't need blood if you don't plan to start a war.

And over the past few days, we've seen much of the methodology that Secretary of State Blinken talked about last week at the UN Security Council: a significant increase in military provocations and false flag operations along the Donbass line of contact; a theatrical meeting of Putin's Security Council that was staged on camera and staged for the Russian public; and now the political provocation of the recognition of the sovereign Ukrainian territory by the so-called independent republics, again, with a clear violation of international law.

President Putin has asked the Russian parliament for permission to use military force outside Russia. And this paved the way for further provocations and provocations by Russia, in order to justify further military action.

We must not be fooled. And they will not be able to deceive us. There is no excuse for this.

Russia's continued attack on Ukraine remains a serious threat in the coming days. And if Russia continues, only Russia will be responsible for it.

In response to these threats, our administration is using all the tools at our disposal to protect American businesses and consumers from rising fuel prices. As I said last week, protecting freedom will come at a price for us here at home. We have to be honest about that.

But as we do so, I am going to take decisive action to make sure that the damage from our sanctions is on the Russian economy, not ours.

We closely monitor the supply of energy for any disruptions. In coordination with major oil consumers and producers, we are implementing a joint investment plan to ensure stability and energy supply at the global level.

This should slow down rising gas prices. I want to limit the damage that the American people will experience at gas stations. This is critical for me.

For the last few days, I have been in constant contact with European leaders, including the President of Ukraine Zelensky. Vice President Harris personally met with German leaders at the Munich Conference this weekend, as well as with President Zelensky.

At every turn, we have shown that the United States, our allies and partners are working in unison, which he, Mr. Putin, did not expect. We are united in our support for Ukraine. We are united in our opposition to Russian aggression. And we are united in our determination to defend our NATO Alliance. And we are united in our understanding of the urgency and seriousness of the threat that Russia poses to global peace and stability.

Yesterday, the world witnessed a distorted rewriting of history by Vladimir Putin during his eloquent speech - well, I'm not going to go into the details of this speech, but nothing in his long speech showed any interest in continuing a real dialogue on European security in 2022 .

He directly denied Ukraine's right to exist. It has indirectly threatened territories formerly held by Russia, including countries that are now prosperous democracies and members of NATO. He clearly threatened war if his emergency demands were not met.

And there is no doubt that Russia is the aggressor. Therefore, we clearly understand the problems we face.

However, there is still time to prevent the worst-case scenario, if they continue, and which will bring untold suffering to millions of people.

The United States, our allies, and our partners remain open to diplomacy if it has serious intentions. When all is said and done, we will judge Russia by its actions, not its words.

And whatever Russia does next, we are ready to respond with unity, clarity and conviction.

We will probably have more to say - if things continue to develop. I hope that diplomacy is still effective.

Thank you very much everyone.

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