Biden sees 'invasion beginning' in Ukraine, announces sanctions against Russia

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Presidente americano anunciou “bloqueio total” a duas grandes instituições financeiras russas, “sanções abrangentes” à dívida do país e a oligarcas próximos do Kremlin

The US president announced a “total lockdown” on two large Russian financial institutions, “comprehensive sanctions” on the country’s debt and on oligarchs close to the Kremlin| Photo: EFE/EPA/SHAWN THEW

The President of the United States, Joe Biden, announced this Tuesday (214 ) the imposition of the first round of economic sanctions against Russia, with the aim of isolating Moscow from the Western financial system.

Presidente americano anunciou “bloqueio total” a duas grandes instituições financeiras russas, “sanções abrangentes” à dívida do país e a oligarcas próximos do Kremlin “This is the beginning of an invasion of Ukraine (…). So I will start imposing sanctions in response,” Biden said in a speech at the White House.

The sanctions are a response to Russia’s recognition of the independence of the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, in eastern Ukraine, and the deployment of Russian troops to the Donbass region.

Biden announced “full lockdown” on two major Russian financial institutions, “comprehensive sanctions” to the sovereign debt of the country and to oligarchs close to the Kremlin and their relatives.

“This means we take the government of Russia out of the Western financial system,” Biden said. “He can no longer get money from the West and he cannot trade new debts in our markets or European markets either.”

Regarding the measures against Russian oligarchs, the American president pointed out that “they share the corrupt games of Kremlin policies and must share the pain as well”.

Biden said tougher sanctions are being prepared. “If Russia goes further with this invasion, we are prepared to go further with sanctions,” Biden said.

This Tuesday, he received the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, to whom he promised assistance in security and economic matters.

In a statement, the White House said that the American president reaffirmed before Kuleba the “US commitment to the defense of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine”.

Biden explained to the representative of Ukrainian diplomacy the sanctions that Washington decided to impose on Russia. “It also stated that the United States will continue to provide security assistance and macroeconomic support to help Ukraine,” the statement explained.

The White House further stressed that Biden will respond “quickly and decisively” to any future Russian aggression against Ukraine, and will do so in coordination with his European allies.