Ukraine President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy joint session of U.S. congress

On December 21st, 2022 Ukraine President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy made his first foreign trip since the invasion to Washington DC. After meeting with President Biden, he gave a speech to a joint session of congress. The speech included references to FDR's declaration of war on Japan and thanked the American congress and people for their support of Ukraine.

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Addresses
Joint Meeting of Congres

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] [GAVEL] SPKR. PELOSI: MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, I HAVE THE HIGH PRIVILEGE AND THE DISTINCT HONOR OF PRESENTING TO YOU IS EXCELLENCY VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, PRESIDENT OF THE UKRAINE. [APPLAUSE]  

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. IT IS TOO MUCH FOR ME. ALL OF THIS FOR OUR GREAT PEOPLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. DEAR AMERICANS, STATES, CITIES AND COMMUNITIES, ALL OF THOSE WHO VALUE FREEDOM AND JUSTICE, WHO CHERISH AS STRONGLY AS WE UKRAINIANS OUR CITIES AND EACH AND EVERY FAMILY, I HOPE MY WORDS OF RESPECT AND GRATITUDE RESONATE IN EACH AMERICAN HEART. MADAME, VICE PRESIDENT, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN HELPING UKRAINE. MADAME SPEAKER, YOU BRAVELY VISITED UKRAINE DURING A FULL-FLEDGED WAR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]

 

I AM VERY PRIVILEGED TO BE HERE. MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESS, REPRESENTATIVES OF BOTH PARTIES WHO ALSO VISITED KYIV. ESTEEMED CONGRESSMAN AND SENATORS FROM BOTH PARTIES WHO WILL VISIT UKRAINE, I AM SURE, IN THE FUTURE. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DIASPORA. [APPLAUSE]

 

PRESENT IN THIS CHAMBER, JOURNALISTS, IT IS A GREAT HONOR FOR ME TO BE AT THE U.S. CONGRESS AND SPEAK TO YOU AND ALL AMERICANS. AGAINST ALL ODDS, AND DOOM AND GLOOM SCENARIOS, UKRAINE DID NOT FALL. UKRAINE IS ALIVE AND KICKING. [APPLAUSE]  

 

AND IT GIVES ME GOOD REASON TO -- WE DEFEATED RUSSIA IN THE BATTLE OF MINDS OF THE WORLD. [APPLAUSE] WE HAVE NO FEAR, NOR SHOULD ANYONE IN THE WORLD HAVE IT. UKRAINE HAS GAINED VICTORY AND IT GIVES US COURAGE WHICH INSPIRES THE ENTIRE WORLD. AMERICANS GAINED THIS VICTORY AND THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE SUCCEEDED IN UNITING THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY TO PROTECT FREEDOM AND INTERNATIONAL LAW. EUROPEANS GAINED THIS VICTORY AND EUROPE IS NOW STRONGER AND MORE INDEPENDENT THAN EVER. THE RUSSIAN TYRANNY HAS LOST CONTROL OVER US. [APPLAUSE]  

 

IT WILL NEVER INFLUENCE OUR MINDS AGAIN, YET WE HAVE TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO ENSURE THAT CONGRESS OF THE GLOBAL SOUTH GAINS SUCH VICTORY. ONE MORE VERY IMPORTANT THING, THE RUSSIANS WILL STAND A CHANCE TO BE FREE ONLY WHEN THEY DEFEAT THE KREMLIN IN THEIR MINDS. [APPLAUSE] YET, THE BATTLE CONTINUES AND WE HAVE TO DEFEAT THE KREMLIN ON THE BATTLEFIELD. THIS BATTLE IS NOT ONLY FOR TERRITORY IN EUROPE, NOT ONLY FOR LIFE, FREEDOM AND SECURITY OF UKRAINIANS OR ANY OTHER NATION WHICH RUSSIA ATTEMPTS TO CONQUER. THIS STRUGGLE WILL DEFINE IN WHAT WORLD OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WE LIVE. IT WILL DEFINE WHETHER IT WILL BE A DEMOCRACY OF UKRAINIANS AND AMERICANS FOR ALL. THIS BATTLE CANNOT BE FROZEN OR POSTPONED. IT CANNOT BE IGNORED, HOPING THAT THE OCEAN OR SOMETHING ELSE WILL PROVIDE PROTECTION. FROM THE UNITED STATES TO CHINA, FROM EUROPE TO LATIN AMERICA AND FROM AFRICA TO AUSTRALIA, THE WORLD IS TOO INTERCONNECTED AND INTERDEPENDENT TO ALLOW SOMEONE TO STAND ASIDE, AND AT THE SAME TIME FEEL SAFE WHEN SUCH A BATTLE CONTINUES. OUR TWO NATIONS ARE ALLIES IN THIS BATTLE. NEXT YEAR WILL BE THE TURNING POINT. THE POINT WHEN UKRAINIAN COURAGE AND AMERICAN RESOLVE MUST GUARANTEE THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMON FREEDOM. THE FREEDOM OF PEOPLE WHO STAND FOR THEIR VALUES. [APPLAUSE]  

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AMERICANS, YESTERDAY BEFORE COMING HERE TO WASHINGTON, D.C., I WAS ON THE FRONTLINE. IN OUR STRONGHOLD IN THE EAST OF UKRAINE IN THE DONBASS, THE RUSSIAN MILITARY HAVE BEEN TAKING NONSTOP SINCE MAY. THEY HAVE BEEN TAKING IT DAY AND NIGHT. BUT, IT STANDS. [APPLAUSE] LAST YEAR, 70,000 PEOPLE LIVED IN THIS CITY. ONLY A FEW CIVILIANS STAY. EVERY INCH OF THAT LAND IS SOAKED IN BLOOD. TRENCHES CHANGED HANDS SEVERAL TIMES. A DAY IN FIERCE COMBAT AND HAND FIGHTING, BUT THE UKRAINIAN DONBASS STANDS. [APPLAUSE]  

 

RUSSIANS USE EVERYTHING THEY HAVE AGAINST OUR BEAUTIFUL CITIES. THE OCCUPIERS HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE IN ARTILLERY. THEY HAVE AN ADVANTAGE IN AMMUNITION. THEY HAVE MUCH MORE MISSILES AND PLANES THAN WE EVER HAD THE IT IS TRUE. BUT, OUR FORCES STAND. [APPLAUSE]  

 

AND WE ALL ARE PROUD OF THEM. THE RUSSIAN'S TECH IS PRIMITIVE. -- TACTICS ARE PRIMITIVE. THEY SEND CONVICTS TO THE WAR. THEY THREW EVERYTHING AGAINST US , SIMILAR TO THE OTHER TYRANNY WHICH IS IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. THROUGH EVERYTHING IT HAS AGAINST THE FREE WORLD, JUST LIKE THE BRAVE AMERICAN SOLDIERS WHO HELD THE LINES AND FOUGHT BACK HITLER'S'S FORCES DURING CHRISTMAS OF 1944, BRAVE SOLDIERS ARE DOING THE SAME TO PUTIN'S SOLDIERS THIS CHRISTMAS. [APPLAUSE] UKRAINE HOLDS ITS LINES AND WILL NEVER SURRENDER. [APPLAUSE]

 

SO HERE ON THE FRONTLINE, THE TIERNEY WHICH HAS NO LACK OF CRUELTY AGAINST THE LIVES OF FREE PEOPLE. YOUR SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL NOT JUST TO -- BUT TO GET TO THE TURNING POINT TO WIN ON THE BATTLEFIELD. WE HAVE ARTILLERY MES. THANK YOU. WE HAVE IT. IS IT ENOUGH? HONESTLY, NOT REALLY. [LAUGHTER]

 

IN BAKHMUT, IT IS NOT JUST A STRONGHOLD THAT HOLDS BACK THE RUSSIAN ARMY, BUT FOR THE RUSSIAN ARMY TO COMPLETELY PULL OUT. MORE CANNONS AND SHELLS ARE NEEDED. SOON, JUST LIKE THE BATTLE OF SARATOGA, THE FIGHT FOR BAKHMUT WILL CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR WAR. IF YOU ARE PATRIOTS STOP -- TO DEFEND OUR FREEDOM. [APPLAUSE] WHEN RUSSIA REACHES OVER CITIES, IT TRIES TO DESTROY THEM WITH MISSILE ATTACKS. RUSSIA FOUND AN ALLY IN THIS GENOCIDAL POLICY, IRAN. IRANIAN DEADLY DRONES SENT TO RUSSIA IN THE HUNDREDS, BECAME A THREAT TO OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT IS HOW ONE TERRORIST HAS FOUND THE OTHER. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME WHEN THEY WILL STRIKE AGAINST OTHER ALLIES IF WE DO NOT STOP THEM NOW. WE MUST DO IT. [APPLAUSE]

 

I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE NO -- BETWEEN US AND OUR ALLIANCE. UKRAINIANS -- ASK AMERICAN SOLDIERS TO FIGHT INSTEAD OF US. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS CAN PROPERLY OPERATE AMERICAN TANKS AND PLANES THEMSELVES. [APPLAUSE]

 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BOTH FINANCIAL PACKAGES YOU HAVE ALREADY PROVIDED US WITH AND THE ONES YOU MAY BE WILLING TO DECIDE ON. YOUR MONEY IS NOT CHARITY, IT IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE GLOBAL SECURITY AND DEMOCRACY THAT WE HANDLE AND THE MOST RESPONSIBLE WAY. [APPLAUSE] RUSSIA COULD STOP ITS AGGRESSION IF IT WANTED TO. BUT YOU CAN SPEED UP OUR VICTORY. I KNOW IT. IT WILL PROVE TO ANY POTENTIAL AGGRESSOR THAT NO ONE CAN SUCCEED IN BREAKING INTERNATIONAL BORDERS, COMMITTING ATROCITIES AND -- OUR PEOPLE. IT WOULD BE NAIVE TO WAIT FOR STEPS TOWARD PEACE FROM RUSSIA WHO WISHES TO BE A TERRORIST STATE. RUSSIANS ARE POISONED BY THE KREMLIN. THERE IS A REASON WHY INTERNATIONAL LEGAL ORDER IS OUR JOINT TASK. WE NEED PEACE. UKRAINE HAS ALREADY OFFERED PROPOSALS, WHICH I DISCUSSED WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN. THEY MUST BE IMPLEMENTED FOR OUR JOINT SECURITY. AND THE SUMMIT WHICH CAN BE HELD. I AM GLAD TO SHARE THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN SUPPORTED OUR PEACE INITIATIVE TODAY. EACH OF YOU LADIES CAN ASSIST IN THE IMPLEMENTATION TO ENSURE THAT AMERICA'S LEADERSHIP REMAINS SOLID. BICAMERAL AND BIPARTISAN. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

 

YOU CAN -- SANCTIONS TO MAKE RUSSIA FEEL HOW -- IT'S INVASION TRULY IS. IT IS IN YOUR POWER TO HELP BRING TO JUSTICE EVERYONE WHO STARTED THIS UNPROVOKED AND CRIMINAL WAR. LET'S DO IT. [APPLAUSE] LET THE TERRORISTS BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS WERE IN AGGRESSION AND COMPENSATE ALL LOSSES. LET THE WORLD SEE THAT THE UNITED STATES ARE HERE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AMERICANS, IN TWO DAYS WE WILL CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS. MAYBE CANDLELIT. NOT BECAUSE IT IS MORE ROMANTIC, BUT BECAUSE THERE WILL NOT BE ELECTRICITY. MILLIONS HAVE NEITHER HEATING WERE RUNNING WATER. ALL OF THESE WILL BE THE RESULT OF RUSSIAN DRONE ATTACKS ON OUR ENERGY. BUT WE DO NOT COMPLAIN. WE DO NOT JUDGE AND COMPARE WHOSE LIFE IS EASIER. YOUR WELL-BEING IS THE PRODUCT OF YOUR NATIONAL SECURITY. THE RESULT OF YOUR STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE AND YOUR MANY VICTORIES. WE UKRAINIANS WILL ALSO GO THROUGH OUR WAR OF INDEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM WITH DIGNITY AND SUCCESS. [APPLAUSE]

 

WE WILL CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS, CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AND EVEN IF THERE IS NO ELECTRICITY, DELIGHT FOR OUR FAITH IN OURSELVES WILL NOT BE --. IF RUSSIANS -- US WE WILL DO OUR -- WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO PROTECT US. IF WE HAVE TO GO TO BOMB SHELTERS ON CHRISTMAS EVE, UKRAINIANS WILL STILL SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE AND CHEER UP EACH OTHER AND WE DO NOT HAVE TO KNOW EVERYONE'S WISH, WE KNOW THAT ALL OF US, MILLIONS OF UKRAINIANS WISH THE SAME, VICTORY. ALL THE VICTORY. [APPLAUSE]

 

WE ALREADY BUILT A STRONG UKRAINE, STRONG OR ME, STRONG INSTITUTION TOGETHER WITH YOU. AND ALSO TOGETHER WITH YOU, WE WILL PUT IN PLACE EVERYONE WHO WILL DEFY FREEDOM. PUT IN. [LAUGHTER]

 

THIS WILL BE THE BASIS TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY IN EUROPE. ON A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS TIME, I WANT TO THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU, I THINK EVERY AMERICAN FAMILY WHICH CHERISHES THE WARMTH OF ITS HOME AND THE SAME WARMTH IS WISHED TO OTHER PEOPLE. I THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN AND BOTH PARTIES AT THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, I THANK YOUR CITIES AND CITIZENS WHO SUPPORTED UKRAINE THIS YEAR WHO HOSTED OUR UKRAINIANS, OUR PEOPLE, WHO RAISED OUR NATIONAL FLAGS, WHO ACTED TO HELP US. THANK YOU ALL, FROM EVERYONE WHO IS NOW AT THE FRONT LINE, FROM EVERYONE WHO IS EVADING VICTORY. STANDING HERE TODAY, I RECALL THE WARS OF THE PRESIDENT, ROOSEVELT. WHICH I THINK IS GOOD FOR THIS MOMENT. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL WIN THROUGH ABSOLUTE VICTORY. THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE WILL WIN, TOO, ABSOLUTELY. [APPLAUSE]

 

I KNOW THAT EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON US, ON UKRAINIAN FORCES, SO MUCH DEPENDS ON THE WORLD, SO MUCH IN THE WORLD DEPENDS ON YOU. WHEN I WAS IN BAKHMUT YESTERDAY, OUR HEROES GAVE ME THE FLAG, THE BATTLE FLAG. THE FLAG OF THOSE WHO DEFEND UKRAINE, EUROPE AND THE WORLD AND THE COST OF THEIR LIVES, THEY ASKED ME TO BRING THIS FLAG TO YOU, TO THE U.S. CONGRESS, TO MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS WHOSE DECISIONS CAN SAVE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. SO LET THESE DECISIONS BE TAKEN. LET THIS FLAG STAY WITH YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THE FLAG IS A SYMBOL OF OUR VICTORY IN THIS WAR, WE STAND, WE FIGHT AND WE WILL WIN BECAUSE WE ARE UNITED. UKRAINE, AMERICA, AND THE ENTIRE FREE WORLD. [APPLAUSE]

 

ONE THING, IF I CAN, THE LAST THING, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAY GOD PROTECT OUR BRAVE TROOPS AND CITIZENS. MAY GOD FOREVER BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY, VICTORIOUS, NEW YEAR. [APPLAUSE]

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE]

 

I CAN HOLD. [LAUGHTER]

 

THERE WE GO. [APPLAUSE]

 

THIS FLAG WAS FLOWN OVER THE CAPITOL TODAY IN HONOR OF THE PRESIDENTS VISIT. [APPLAUSE]

 

THE PURPOSE OF THE JOINT --

 

GOD BLESS AMERICA. [APPLAUSE]

 

THE PURPOSE OF THE JOINT MEETING HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THE CHAIR DECLARES THE JOINT MEETING IS NOW DISSOLVED. THE HOUSE WILL CONTINUE IN RECESS SUBJECT TO THE CALL OF THE CHAIR.

 

WE EXPECT MEMBERS TO BEGIN VOTING ON SHORTLY ON BILLS DEBATED EARLIER. FIRST A LOOK AT PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY AND PRESIDENT AYDIN FROM THEIR JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE EARLIER. WE WILL SHOW AS MUCH OF THIS AS WE CAN BEFORE THE HOUSE GAMBLES BACK INTO SESSION.

 

Guidian News: Volodymyr Zelenskiy has given an address to the US Congress. The Ukrainian president left his country for the first time since Russia invaded more than 300 days ago for a meeting with US president Joe Biden at the Oval Office and to give a speech at a joint session of Congres.

 

The U.S. maintains an embassy in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, and Ukraine maintains an embassy in the American capital Washington, D.C.

 

In addition to diplomatic support in its conflict with Russia, the U.S. provided Ukraine with US$1.5 billion in military aid from 2014 to 2019. In 2021, The Sunday Times reported that the amount of military aid given was US$2.5 billion.

 

In January 2022, the U.S. put 5,000–8,500 troops on high alert as tensions escalated in the Russia-Ukrainian War,  expressing willingness to further help defend Ukraine before and when Russia launched its invasion a month later. The United States provided nearly $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2021 and 2022, up to the first week of the invasion.  Such aid included offensive weapons and sharing intelligence with the Ukrainian military.  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly sent thanks to American leaders for the support.

In the 2022 State of the Union Address, which was attended by Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova, U.S. President Joe Biden heavily criticized the invasion and pledged American support for Ukraine. American public opinion also heavily shifted towards supporting Ukraine following the invasion.

 

In May 2022, the U.S. Senate confirmed Bridget Brink to serve as ambassador to coincide with the reopening of the US embassy in Kyiv after it had closed due to the invasion.  On December 21st, 2022 Zelenskyy made his first foreign trip since the invasion to Washington DC. After meeting with President Biden, he gave a speech to a joint session of congress. The speech included references to FDR's declaration of war on Japan and thanked the American congress and people for their support of Ukraine.

 

 

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Since October, 2022 Russia-Ukraine war time line shows as the follow:

 

30 September

At least thirty civilians died and dozens more were injured in Zaporizhzhia when a Russian missile hit a humanitarian convoy.

 

Putin held a speech in a so-called "signing ceremony" intended to mark the Russian annexation of Southeastern Ukraine. In the speech, Putin announced claims on Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, saying they were now "four new regions" of the Russian Federation. In response, Zelenskyy asked NATO to give Ukraine membership into the military alliance.

 

October 2022

1 October

Ukrainian troops raised the Ukrainian flag at an entrance to the city of Lyman.  Russia confirmed that it had lost control of Lyman later that afternoon.

 

Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian soldiers retook Yampil, a town near Lyman.

 

Kyiv announced the deaths of 24 citizens, 13 of whom were children, in a Russian strike in Kharkiv.

 

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov called on Putin to take "more drastic measures", including martial law and the use of low-yield nuclear weapons. This is in response to the Russian withdrawal from Lyman where he placed blame on communication among leadership and supply issues.

 

2 October

A Ukrainian armoured offensive burst through Russian lines in the south capturing multiple villages along the Dnieper river. This was the biggest Ukrainian advance in the south since the war began.

 

3 October

It was reported that Russian forces had fled from Nyzhe Zolone, Pidlyman, Nyznya Zhuravka, Borova and Shyikivka in Kharkiv Oblast and that Ukrainian authorities had regained control of those settlements, effectively ending the Russian occupation of Kharkiv Oblast.

 

4 October

According to Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, more than 200,000 people have been called up for military service since Russia announced a "partial mobilization".

 

The US announced a new package of $625 million to Ukraine. They also sent 4 more HIMARS rocket artillery systems.

 

Ukrainian forces regained control of numerous settlements north of the Dnieper River in Kherson Oblast including Davydiv Brid, Lyubymivka, Khreshchenivka, Zolota Balka, Bilyaivka, Ukrainka and Velyka Oleksandrivka.

5 October

The pro-Russian deputy head of the Kherson region, Kirill Stremousov, stated that Russian forces were regrouping to strike back at Ukrainian troops; he added that the Ukrainian advance had been "halted" and therefore it was "not possible" for the Ukrainian Army to break through to the city of Kherson.  The Russians were seemingly retreating to fortified positions around Nova Kakhovka.[107] Russian officers (but not troops) were reported as withdrawing from Snihurivka.

6 October

According to CNN, unidentified "US intelligence officials" believe that the car bombing of Darya Dugina may have been authorized "by elements within the Ukrainian government".

 

Ukrainian authorities found two mass graves in liberated Lyman.

 

Russian forces launched seven rockets into apartment buildings in Zaporizhzhia, killing at least three people and wounding twelve others. The casualties rose to 17 (including one child) by 9 October.

 

7 October

Ukrainian officials said they shot down 20 drones in the last 24 hours.

 

8 October

An explosion on the Crimean Bridge caused a section to burn and partially collapse resulting in the death of at least 3 people.

 

9 October

Russian Armed Forces launched six missiles at an apartment block in Zaporizhzhia, resulting in the deaths of 13 people and injuring more than 89 others.

 

10 October

 

Kyiv after the missile strikes

Russia launched a massive missile strike across the entire territory of Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv, killing at least 23 civilians and injuring more than 100. Putin said that Russia carried out this attack as revenge for the attack on the Crimean Bridge. The German Embassy in Kyiv was damaged due to the strikes. No officials were present at the embassy since it has been vacant since the war began.

 

Alexander Lukashenko announced Belarus would form a "joint regional group of forces" with Russia, possibly also joining the war further on. Lukashenko said, "If they touch one metre of our territory then the Crimean Bridge will seem to them like a walk in the park."

12 October

 

United Nations General Assembly resolution, 12 October 2022

The United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution ES-11/4 by a large majority, calling on countries not to recognise the four regions of Ukraine which Russia has claimed, following so-called referendums held late last month, and demanding that Moscow reverse course on its "attempted illegal annexation". 143 member states voted in favor and 35 abstained, notably China and India. Only Belarus, North Korea, Nicaragua, Russia and Syria voted against the resolution.

 

13 October

Russian forces launched eight missiles at Mykolaiv, hitting a five-story residential building. One of the victims was an 11-year-old boy.

 

A Ukrainian MiG-29 became the first manned aircraft to be downed by a drone during combat. The pilot claimed to have destroyed a Shahed-136 drone with his cannon, with the resulting blast downing the aircraft and hospitalising the pilot.

 

15 October

Eleven people were killed and 15 others injured after two shooters opened fire on a group of volunteers at a Russian military training ground in Soloti, Belgorod Oblast, near the border with Ukraine. The two attackers were killed during the incident.

 

17 October

 

A destroyed house in Kyiv

Ukrainian officials claimed to have found wreckage of multiple HESA Shahed 136 kamikaze drones which struck Kyiv, causing three to four explosions and killing at least 4 people, according to the city's mayor, Vitali Klitschko. Another four were killed in Sumy. This came after Russian President Vladimir Putin said there was no need for further "large-scale" strikes on Ukraine. According to a Reuters journalist, some drones bore the inscription "For Belgorod". In Mykolaiv the mayor, Oleksandr Senkevich, said sunflower oil tanks caught fire after a drone attack. The Ukrainian Air Force said it intercepted 37 drones.

 

A Russian Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bomber crashed into a residential building in the Russian city of Yeysk, causing multiple apartments to catch fire. The pilots managed to eject safely, according to Russian agencies; 13 people were killed and 19 injured in the crash.

 

18 October

According to Ukrainian officials, Russian forces have struck "critical infrastructure" north of Kyiv and in Zhytomyr, leading to water and power cuts in Zhytomyr. In Kyiv "several explosions" were heard, while in Mykolaiv a person is claimed to have been killed by a missile strike. Dnipro was also attacked. President Zelenskyy claims that over the last 8 days, since 10 October, a third of Ukrainian power stations have been destroyed. He wrote on Twitter: "no space left for negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime."[138][139] In total, over the last 10 days, Ukrainian national emergency services claim that 70 people were killed, 290 were wounded and 1,162 villages and towns remain without power due to attacks on electrical infrastructure.

 

In a prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia, 108 women were freed, including 97 service personnel and 37 Azovstal evacuees.

 

Ukraine recognised the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria as "Territory temporarily occupied by Russia".

 

19 October

Sergey Surovikin said that civilians were being relocated from Kherson in preparation for a Ukrainian offensive on the city. It looks to be aimed at 50 to 60 thousand civilians. Ukraine has called on residents to ignore the Russian move.

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared martial law in the annexed Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts. Russia also introduced an "intermediate response level" in Crimea and Sevastopol, and in regions bordering Ukraine: Krasnodar Krai and the Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, and Rostov Oblasts.

 

22 October

Power outages were reported across Ukraine as Russian airstrikes across the country struck critical infrastructure and energy facilities.

 

23 October

The US has dismissed Russian fears of Ukraine using a dirty bomb. Two weeks later, UN nuclear inspectors announced they had found no evidence of a dirty bomb in Ukraine.

 

24 October

Ukraine has accused Russia of delaying 165 cargo ships heading from Turkey to Ukraine.

 

26 October

Russia started recruiting members of the Afghan National Army Commando Corps, soldiers trained by the US Navy SEALs and British Armed Forces.

 

A Russian missile strike on Dnipro killed two people, including a pregnant woman.

 

Russian forces have deported about 70,000 Ukrainian civilians from the right bank of the Dnieper river, some of them to southern Russia.

 

27 October

Vladimir Putin is said to have monitored drills of Russia's strategic nuclear forces.

 

Moscow-backed authorities in Zaporizhzhia ordered phone checks on local residents following the implementation of military censorship.

 

Kyiv will have stricter blackouts due to the drone strikes.

 

28 October

South Korea has denied they were sending weapons to Ukraine after Putin's remarks that such a move "would destroy relations".

 

The European Union appointed General Piotr Trytek of Poland to lead its training mission for Ukrainian troops.

 

29 October

The Russian-occupied Sevastopol Naval Base was attacked by unmanned surface vehicles and drones. Nine UAVs and seven USVs were destroyed according to Russian officials.Russia accused Britain of being involved in the preparation of the attacks.The UK Ministry of Defence responded, saying Russia was "peddling lies on an epic scale". After the attack, Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative but resumed its participation four days later.One of the ships which appeared to be damaged in videos was the Admiral Makarov, the new flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet following the sinking of the Moskva.

 

31 October

See also: October 2022 missile strikes on Ukraine and War crimes in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine § Energy infrastructure

Russian Armed Forces launched more than 50 missiles at energy infrastructure in Kyiv, and other regions such as Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Cherkasy and Kirovohrad. 13 people were injured by the strikes. Up to 18 facilities were hit, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. 40% of Kyiv residents were left without water and 270,000 apartments were left without electricity. One missile shot down by Ukraine fell in the Moldovan village of Naslavcea, causing no casualties but shattering windows in some houses. Moldova told an unnamed Russian embassy employee to leave the country, making him a persona non grata.

 

November 2022

1 November

Russia announced the completion of its partial mobilization.

 

3 November

The US said that North Korea was covertly shipping artillery to Russia.

In a prisoner swap, 107 Ukrainian servicemen were returned to Ukraine.

 

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is running on backup generators due to Russian shelling.

 

4 November

Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov has announced that Ukroboronprom will start manufacturing 152 and 122mm shells for its Soviet-era weapons.

 

5 November

 

Demining in Kharkiv region

President Putin has signed a decree that allows people convicted of serious crimes to be mobilised into the Russian army. Exempted from this decree are people convicted of sex crimes involving minors and crimes against the state such as treason, spying or terrorism—such people still cannot be mobilised. This could allow "hundreds of thousands" of people to be mobilised.

 

9 November

Ukrainian forces entered Snihurivka. Russian forces announced their withdrawal from the city of Kherson and their retreat to the east bank of the Dnipro.

 

The pro-Russian deputy head of the Kherson region, Kirill Stremousov, died in a car crash near Henichesk.

 

10 November

Fields in Kharkiv region strewn with craters

Several United States officials announced a $400 million military aid package to Ukraine, including ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), mortars and missiles for the Hawk surface-to-air anti-aircraft system, and, for the first time, Avenger air defense systems.

 

11 November

Ukrainian troops entered the city of Kherson with little fighting, while the front line reached the western bank of the Dnipro River.

 

14 November

The United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution that holds Russia responsible for all damage caused to Ukraine by the invasion and demands reparations.

 

15 November

See also: October–November 2022 nationwide missile strikes on Ukraine

 

Fire after strike on an infrastructure facility in Kyiv Oblast

Russia launched about 85 to 100 missiles at a number of Ukrainian cities. The recent strategic bombing campaign has caused severe shortages of electricity and water at multiple cities.[182][183][184] According to the Ukrainian Air Force some 77 of 96 Russian missiles were shot down. A Pentagon official claims the Russian plan is to exhaust the Ukrainian air defences. At one stage some 50 missiles were in combat “within minutes” near the Polish border.

 

A missile crossed over Polish borders and struck the village of Przewodów, killing two civilians. Top leaders in Poland held an emergency meeting. Initial assessments by the United States found that the missile was likely to have been an air defence missile fired by Ukrainian forces at an incoming Russian missile.

 

According to Ukraine's Operational Command South, Ukrainian rocket and artillery units attacked Russian positions on the left bank of the Dnipro River and in the area of the Kinburn Spit.

 

17 November

After the missile strikes, more than 10 million people were without power by 17 November, but a day later Ukrainian officials reported that electricity had already been restored to "nearly 100%" of Ukraine.

 

According to Ukrainian officials, one of the wrecks of missiles found after a missile attack earlier that day is that of an "X-55/Kh-55" cruise missile. These missiles are apparently incapable of carrying a conventional warhead, but this specific missile had an "imitation block" (model for training) of a nuclear bomb. They believe that the missile was meant to help overwhelm Ukraine's missile defenses.

 

20 November

New Zealand Defence Minister Peeni Henare became the first NZ minister to visit Kyiv. He has indicated that New Zealand is prepared to consider more aid.

 

23 November

 

Hospital in Vilniansk after missile strike on 23 November

The European Parliament declared Russia a "state sponsor of terrorism" for the way Russia has systematically attacked civilians and committed war crimes. This declaration is itself symbolic, but calls for more sanctions.

 

The Russian military has launched 65 to 70 missiles at civilian settlements and energy infrastructure, although 51 of those were said to have been shot down. The attack caused blackouts over much of Ukraine and forced several nuclear power plants to shut down.[200][201][202] Much of Moldova was also experiencing blackouts due to the attack-related power grid failure in Ukraine.

25 November

According to U.S. and Ukrainian officials, about 1/3 of Western-supplied artillery is always out of action in Ukraine due to wear-related mechanical problems. The United States European Command is said to have a repair base in Poland, but it is problematic to transport the weapons there from the front.

 

28 November

The Russian army was actively pushing on both sides of Bakhmut, a city in the immediate vicinity of the front on the Ukrainian side. The Russians were trying to encircle the town, but according to observers, they were making very slow progress, so there was no immediate danger to the settlement and the Russians might not be able to encircle it at the current rate.

 

29 November

Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary-General of NATO, made a speech at the meeting of NATO foreign ministers at Bucharest, in which he expressed alliance commitment to support Ukraine for as long as is required, because allowing Russia to win would only embolden Putin.  He also promised Ukraine that NATO would one day accept them as a member and that Putin cannot deny sovereign nations the right to make their own sovereign decisions that are not a threat to Russia. He also speculated that the main challenges to Putin are democracy and freedom.

 

30 November

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, speaking in the name of the EU, suggested the creation of a UN court to investigate war crimes committed by Russia. Russia does not recognize the International Criminal Court, so the European Commission has proposed two possible alternative ways to hold Russia accountable: either to create a court that would be set up by international treaties, or to create an international court with a number of judges from several countries. She estimated the war-damage to Ukraine is about 600 billion Euros. She proposed a financial plan to help pay for this. She pointed out that the EU has frozen 300 billion Euros worth of Russian central bank reserves and 20 billion Euros worth of money belonging to Russias oligarchs, which she suggested should be invested. The investments could be given to Ukraine when sanctions are lifted.  The original statement by Ursula von der Leyen included a claim that 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers and 20,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed so far in the war. This angered unspecified Ukrainian military officials, who are reported to have said that the death toll is classified information. In response, the European Commission edited the video of von der Leyen's speech to remove this information. Official publications of the text of the speech was also edited to omit the numbers.

 

December 2022

2 December

Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak claims that 10-13,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since 24 February, with a figure last given in August of 9,000.

 

5 December

Explosions were reported at two Russian airbases: the one at Engels-2 reportedly damaged two Tu-95s according to Baza; the other at the Dyagilevo military airbase near Ryazan, destroyed a fuel truck and killed three, injuring five.[215] Russian Minisitry of Defence stated Ukraine attempted to strike Russia's long-range aviation bombers with Soviet-made jet drones, and that the drones were subsequently shot down at low altitude when approaching the air bases. The attack involved the use of Tu-141 drones that were taken out of storage. They appear to have been fitted with improvised explosives.[216][217][218] While no significant damage or burn marks are visible on satellite images of the Engels-2 air base, at least one Tu-22M3 bomber was visually confirmed to be slightly damaged at the Dyagilevo air base.

 

Following the attacks, Russia launched a renewed wave of missile strikes against Ukraine, consisting of about 70 cruise misilles. Ukraine claimed 60 missiles have been shot down, Russia claimed 17 targets have been hit on the ground.[215] As a result, a missile fell again within the borders of Moldova, near the city of Briceni.

 

6 December

The Russian governor of Kursk, Roman Starovoyt, claimed that a Ukrainian drone attack destroyed an oil tank near an airbase. No reports of casualties and the fire was under control. No comment from Ukraine on these claims.

 

7 December

Gathered remains of Russian Uragan, Smerch, and S-300 rockets in Kharkiv. 52,000 explosive objects were disposed as of in the Kharkiv region as of 7 December 2022.

President Putin has acknowledged that the "special military operation" is taking longer than expected, however the Russian nuclear arsenal is preventing the conflict from escalating. As in June 2022, he made another reference to the expansion of the Russian Empire by Peter the Great.

 

9 December

Putin revealed that he is considering adopting the concept of the "preemptive strike" from the U.S. According to him, the U.S. openly discussed this policy some years ago, but currently Russia is only just thinking about it.  A few hours after Putin's statement, Jens Stoltenberg, general secretary of NATO, warned that there's a real possibility of a major war between Russia and NATO.

 

Russia re-occupied the previously liberated Dnipro river island of Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin close to Kherson. This was confirmed by presidential advisor Oleksii Arestovych and Lieutenant Colonel Konstiantyn Mashovets, as well as some unofficial Russian sources. The General Staff of the Ukrainian armed forces claimed on 15 December that Russia had begun the process of forcibly deporting the island's civilian residents.

 

10 December

Russia used Iranian-made drones to hit two energy facilities in Odesa, leaving all non-critical infrastructure in the Ukrainian port without power and 1.5 million people without electricity.

 

Ukraine launched a missile attack on the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol including at a Russian military barracks; according to Melitopol’s Russia-installed administrators, four missiles hit the city, killing two people. In addition, explosions were reported in Donetsk and Crimea.

 

11 December

Ukraine President Zelenskyy said that Russian forces have turned the city of Bakhmut into "burned ruins".

 

12 December

Ukraine President Zelenskyy has appealed to the G7 for tanks, artillery and long range weapons. In response, the G7 has pledged to meet Ukraine's requirements.

 

Luhansk’s exiled Governor Serhiy Haidai claimed that Ukraine's armed forces killed personnel from the Wagner Group, a private military company in the Luhansk Region.

 

The UK sanctioned Russian military commanders for missile attacks and Iranian businessmen for the production and supply of military drones.  EU sanctioned 20 individuals and one entity of Iran over human rights abuse. Ministers of the European Union of Foreign Affairs have also claimed that they have proofs to support Iran supplying Shahed-136 drones to Russia despite denials from both countries.

 

13 December

Robert Magowan, a British lieutenant general and former commander of the Royal Marines, had revealed that the Royal Marines have several times been involved in "secret operations" in Ukraine, in "extremely sensitive context", involving "a high level of political and military risk".

 

Denis Pushilin, Acting head of Donetsk's People of Republic had claimed that half of the Donetsk region is under Russian control.

 

14 December

Three explosions were heard in the centre of Kyiv; President Zelenskyy claimed that Ukrainian air defence forces shot down 13 Iranian Shahed drones.

 

Reports emerged that U.S. officials were finalising and preparing to announce a plan to provide Ukraine with the sophisticated Patriot air defence system, agreeing to an urgent request from Ukrainian leaders amid increasing Russian missile attacks against Ukraine's infrastructure. Biden administration was reluctant to deploy the system for months, as a Patriot battery complex would need atleast 90 trained troops to operate and maintain it, along with concerns that it would provoke Russia to escalate.

 

Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets claimed that a children's torture chamber had been uncovered in Kherson.

 

Andrii Yermak, Chief of Staff of the Office of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated that they have released around 64 military personnel and a US Citizen during a prisoner swap deal with Russia.

 

15 December

Zelenskyy stated that Russia should start to withdraw their troops by Christmas as a step to end the conflict. Russia responded "No Christmas Ceasefire" until Ukraine accepts loss of territory.

The Kyiv School of Economics published a report estimating that, as of November 2022, Russia's invasion had caused $136 billion in direct damage to Ukraine's infrastructure. Energy infrastructure, industry, public, and private enterprises were impacted the most.

 

USAID delivered four excavators and over 130 generators to Kyiv for use in "boiler houses and heat supply stations" according to mayor Vitali Klitschko.

 

The recently liberated city of Kherson was entirely without power following recent Russian shelling, which killed at least two people.  The Kherson military administration stated that the city was hit 86 times with "artillery, MLRS, tanks, mortars and UAVs," in the past 24 hours.

 

In the Donbas, Ukrainian forces bombarded Donetsk city in the largest wave of shelling seen since 2014, according to mayor Alexey Kulemzin.

 

Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, published a detailed summary of 441 killings including 8 girls during the conflict.

 

United States had expanded its training to 500 Ukrainians each month at Germany.

 

16 December

 

Civilians shelter in the Kyiv Metro during a Russian missile attack, 16 December

Russia launched around 76 missiles on Kyiv, Kharkiv, Poltava, and Kremenchuk, destroying infrastructure. Reports suggest at least four were killed in Kryvyi Rih. These 76 missiles were fired at 9 power plants; Ukraine claims 60 were intercepted.  

 

17 December

Missiles were launched targeting infrastructure on Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih and Zaporhizhzhia. Kyiv council member Ksenia Semenova stated that approximately 60% of residents were without power and 70% were without water. Ukraine restored power and water to approximately 6 million residents in 24 hours. 37 out of the 40 missiles fired at Kyiv were intercepted.  

 

Russia has started a new campaign on TV to recruit more soldiers. In one advertisement, some men leave for Georgia. An old woman drops her groceries and men who have not left help her pick them up. She then says: "The boys have left, the men stayed."

 

18 December

The Russian government is recruiting musicians to boost morale. The so-called "front-line creative brigade" will be made up from mobilised soldiers and musicians who have volunteered.

 

19 December

 

Building of Kherson Oblast State Administration after Russian strike on 19 December

According to Ukrainian Air Force, Russia attacked Ukraine's infrastructure with 35 Iranian kamikaze drones, 30 of which are said to be shot down. 23 of the drones attacked Kyiv (according to the city officials, 18 of them were shot down). An infrastructure facility was damaged, leaving three areas in Kyiv without power supply.  Energy shortages caused interruptions in heat and water supply.  Mykolaiv and Kherson regions were also attacked. Building of Kherson Oblast State Administration was partially destroyed.

 

20 December

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the situation is "extremely difficult" in the four areas of Russia-annexed Ukraine. Putin has ordered the Federal Security Services to step up surveillance at the country's borders to combat "emergence of new threats" from abroad and traitors. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy visited the Bakhmut region.

 

Russian energy exporter Gazprom said that despite a fatal explosion at the Urengoy–Pomary–Uzhhorod pipeline they were able to supply gas to their customers using parallel pipelines without any shortages.

 

21 December

The United States is aiming to provide military aid of $1.8 billion USD including the Patriot missile system.

 

Ukraine President Zelenskyy met United states President Biden during his 2022 visit and addressed a joint session of the US Congress after Speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi invited President Zelenskyy.

 

22 December

United States National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby estimated that the Wagner Group deployed 40,000 mercenaries of recruited convicts and 10,000 mercenaries of contractors.  The North Korean Foreign ministry denied US claims that it was supplying "infantry rockets and missiles into Russia".  

 

Speaking to reporters, President Putin referred to the conflict in Ukraine as a "war" and also said that the U.S. Patriot system is "old and does not work as well as the Russian S-300 missile system". Critics stated that referring to the conflict as a "war" is considered a crime under a censorship law signed in March of 2022, with a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, and called for the prosecution of President Putin.

 

23 December

The Netherlands pledged up to 2.5 billion euros to help Ukraine in 2023. This aid will pay for military equipment and rebuilding critical infrastructure. President Zelenskyy thanked them for this pledge.

 

24 December

 

Kherson after the shelling

Russian forces shelled Kherson leaving 10 dead and 55 injured according to the Ukrainian President and Officals. President Zelenskyy stated that the shelling first hit a department store and then a market.  

 

The Russian army has placed three battalions near the Ukraine border, inside Belarus. The Ukrainian military has made note of this and considered further securing the northern border.

 

25 December

President Putin stated that Russia is ready for negotiation, but that Kyiv and its Western backers refused to engage in talks.

 

Putin stated on television that according to recent events and according to history, 99.9% of his citizens "are ready to sacrifice everything for the Motherland" and that "this just once again convinces me that Russia is a special country and special people live here".

 

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused the West of only provoking the war in Ukraine, rather than mediating it. Erdogan cited the Black Sea Grain Initiative as an example of Turkey's role in mediating.

 

26 December

Russia claims to have shot down a Ukrainian drone near the Engels-2 (air base). The governor of the region, Roman Busargin, reported no damage to "civilian infrastructure". Three people from the "technical staff" were killed by falling drone wreckage. According to the Russian defence ministry, "a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle was shot down at low altitude while approaching the Engels military airfield in the Saratov region." Ukrainian and Russian social media accounts report a number of bombers have been destroyed; however Reuters couldn’t confirm these claims.

 

27 December

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Ukraine must accept Moscow’s peace demands or “The point is simple: Fulfil them for your own good. Otherwise, the issue will be decided by the Russian army,”

 

 

 

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DECEMBER 21, 2022

Remarks by President Biden and President Zelenskyy of Ukraine Before Bilateral Meeting

 

SPEECHES AND REMARKS

Oval Office

2:17 P.M. EST

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN: Well, Mr. President, it’s good to have you back. I’m delighted you were able to make the trip to be here. And, you know, it’s an honor to be by your side in united defense against what is a brutal, brutal war being waged by Putin.

 

Three hundred days. Hard to believe. Three hundred days —

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: Yeah.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN: — you’ve been going through this. And Putin has waged a brutal assault on Ukraine’s right to exist as a nation, and the attack on innocent Ukrainian people for no reason other than to intimidate.

 

And he’s escalated his assault on civilians after hitting schools, orphanages, hospitals, landmarks. It just — it’s — and he’s trying to use winter as a weapon.

 

And — but the Ukrainian people continue to inspire the world. I mean that sincerely. Not just inspire us, but inspire the world with their courage and how they have chose the resilience and resolve for their future.

 

And the American people have stood proudly with them, Democrats and Republicans — together with our allies in Europe and Japan and other places — to make sure that you have the financial, humanitarian, and security assistance that is needed. And we’re going to talk about that today.

 

And we’re going to continue to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, particularly air defense. And that’s why we’re going to be providing Ukraine with a Patriot missile battery and training your forces to be able to accurately use it.

 

Together with our partners, we’re also going to continue to impose costs on the Kremlin, and we’ll support Ukraine pursuing a just peace.

 

President Zelenskyy, the United States stands with the brave people of Ukraine, and we stand with you. And you’ve been a great leader.

 

And, by the way, we have a famous thing that occurs once a year. We pick the “Man of the Year” in Time Magazine. You are the “Man of the Year” in this — in the United States of America.

 

And so, welcome. We have a lot to talk about. And the floor is yours, sir.

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: Thank you so much. Mr. President, a great honor for me to be here. Your journalists. Thank you so much for the invitation. I really wanted to come earlier. Mr. President knows about it, but I couldn’t do it because the situation was so difficult. And now, if I’ve come — I came — in that we controlled the situation and because of support — and, first of all, because of your support.

 

And I really — I understand that we have very important topics, and we’ll discuss them — everything — so many challenges in Ukraine, in Europe, in the world, and from energy to the situation on the battlefield.

 

But I — first of all, I really — all my appreciation from my heart, from the hearts of Ukrainians — all Ukrainians, from our nation — strong nation. All the appreciation to you, first of all, Mr. President, for your big support and leadership. Of course, Europe — many countries — helped us and are helping now because the war is not over. It’s (inaudible), but — anyway.

 

But that is your leadership. Thank you, first of all.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN: Thank you.

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: Thank you so much, Mr. President.

 

Of course, thanks bipartisan support. Thanks, Congress. And thanks from our just ordinary people to your ordinary people, Americans. I really appreciate. I think it’s very difficult to — to understand what does it mean when we say appreciate, but — but you really have — have to feel it. And thank you so much. Great honor to be here.

 

And yesterday, I was in Donbas, in Bakhmut. That is the place on the east of our country. You know all the details. We had so many phone calls and spoke in detail about it.

 

And I want to give you something. One guy — he’s really a real hero, a real captain. And he asked me to pass his award, and he asked me to pass his award to President Biden. You will understand he is a captain of HIMARS battery. Yes, he’s very brave. And he said give it to a very brave president. And I want to give you that and the cross — the cross for military merit. That is one.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN: Well, God love you.

 

(President Zelenskyy presents President Biden with a Ukrainian Medal of Merit.)

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: Yes, that is from him. And I have the list. He wrote a list. Yes. I didn’t read, Mr. President. I can’t read; it’s not mine. It’s in Ukrainian language, but here that translation. It’s from him.

 

(President Zelenskyy presents a document to President Biden.)

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN: Thank you. And his name is — I have his name?

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: Yes. Yes.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN: I can contact him?

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: Yes.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN: Pavlo.

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: Pavlo.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN: Pavlo.

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: Pavlo, tак.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN: Well, undeserved but much appreciated. Thank you.

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: Thank you. Thank you.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN: Thank you, thank you, thank you.

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: He said that all — many, many his brothers this system saved. So thank you very much.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN: Well, we have a tradition here, and I will give it to him. My son who fought in Iraq, they have what they call a “command coin.” You’ve seen those coins —

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: Yeah. Yeah.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN: — we give on the battlefield? I will make sure that he gets one of those.

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: Great. Give me; I will give.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN: Well, thank you, thank you, thank you.

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: Thank you so much.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN: I appreciate it. What a great honor.

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: Thank you.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN: A great honor.

 

Well, thank you, press. Appreciate it very much.

 

2:22 P.M. EST

 

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President Biden Hosts a Joint Press Conference with
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine

 

DECEMBER 21, 2022

Remarks by President Biden and
President Zelenskyy of Ukraine in Joint Press Conference

 

SPEECHES AND REMARKS

East Room

 

4:44 P.M. EST

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Please, be seated.  Thank you.

 

President Zelenskyy, I’m honored to welcome you back to the White House.

 

We’ve spent an awful lot of time on the telephone as well as on video, but it’s good to see you in person again.  And we’ve been in close and frequent communication throughout this conflict from the very beginning, but particularly — it’s particularly meaningful to talk with one another in person — look each other in the eye, because leadership through this terrible crisis has inspired the Ukrainian people — as you have done, Mr. President — and the American people and the entire world.

 

This visit to Washington, your first trip outside Ukraine since February, comes as President Putin is escalating his attacks — his brutal attacks — targeting critical infrastructure to make life as hard as possible for not only innocent Ukrainians but children and young children, and everything from orphanages to schools.  It’s just outrageous what he’s doing.

 

As we’ve — as we’ve heard into — and as we head into the new year, it’s important for the American people and for the world to hear directly from you, Mr. President, about Ukraine’s fight and the need to continue to stand together through 2023.

 

This visit also falls on the 300-day mark of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.  Three hundred days since Putin launched an unprovoked, unjustified, all-out assault on the free people of Ukraine.  Three hundred days of Ukrainian people showing Russia and the world their steel backbone, their love of country, and their unbreakable determination — and I emphasize “unbreakable determination” — to choose their own path.

 

To Ukrainian people, I say to them all: You have demonstrated — you have shown your strong stand against aggression in the face of the imperial appetites of autocrats who wrongfully believed you might — you might — they might be able to make might right, and they’re not able to do it.

 

Thus far, they have not — they’ve stood alone.  You know, and you’ve had — but you haven’t stood alone.  You have had significant, significant help.  We’ve never stand alone — you will never stand alone.

 

When Ukraine’s freedom was threatened, the American people — like generations of Americans before us — did not hesitate.

 

The support from all across this country, Americans of every walk of life — Democrats and Republicans alike — had the resources and the — to rebound in resounding, united way to do — provide unequivocal and unbending support for Ukraine.  

 

Because we understand in our bones that Ukraine’s fight is part of something much bigger.  The American people know that if we stand by in the face of such blatant attacks on liberty and democracy and the core principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, the world would surely face worse consequences.

 

And as I said when Putin rolled his tanks into Ukraine in February: American — American people are prepared to have us stand up to bullies, stand up for freedom.  That’s who we are as Americans.  And that’s exactly what we’ve done.

 

Even before the invasion began and Putin threatened Ukraine by building up his forces, we helped make sure Ukraine would be prepared to defend itself — even before they crossed into Ukraine.

 

We provided a steady stream of defensive weapons, including air defense systems and artillery, ammunition, and so much more.  And we’ve not done it alone.

 

From the very beginning, the United States rallied allies and partners from around the world to stand strong with Ukraine and impose unprecedented — and I emphasize “unprecedented” — sanctions and export controls on Russia, making it harder for the Kremlin to wage its brutal war.

 

More than 50 nations have committed nearly 2,000 tanks and other armored vehicles; more than 800 artillery systems; more 2 million rounds of artillery ammunition; and more than fif- — more than 50 advanced multiple rocket launching systems; anti-ship and anti- — and air defense systems all to strengthen Ukraine.

 

Together, we’ve provided billions of dollars in direct budgetary support to make sure the Ukrainian government can keep providing basic, fundamental services to the Uranian [Ukrainian] people like healthcare, education, and emergency personnel.

 

This includes another $2 billion that — in direct budget support from the American people that the World Bank distributed earlier this week.

 

We’ve provided humanitarian assistance to help the millions of Ukrainians who have been forced to flee their homes because of Putin’s inhumane and brutal war.

 

Communities across Europe have opened their hearts and their homes to help Ukrainians in need.

 

The United States has been proud to welcome more than 221,000 Ukrainians seeking refuge since March of 2022, including as part of Uniting for Ukraine — as part of our Uniting for Ukraine program.

 

And today, USAID is committing more than $374 million in urgently needed humanitarian assistance for Ukraine.  This will help provide food and cash assistance for more than 1.5 million Ukrainian people, as well as access to healthcare, safe drinking water, and help stay warm in the winter to more than — for more than 2.5 million Ukrainians.

 

The United States and our allies and partners around the world have delivered a broad range of assistance at historic speed, and it’s been critical to bolstering Ukraine’s success thus far.

 

Ukraine has won the battle of Kyiv, has won the battle of Kherson, has won the battle of Kharkiv.  Ukraine has defied Russia’s expectations at every single turn.

 

And, President Velenskyy [sic] — Zelenskyy, you have made it clear he is open to pursuing a — well, let me put it this way: He’s not open, but you’re open to pursuing peace.  You’re open to pursuing a just peace.

 

We also know that Putin has no intention — no intention of stopping this cruel war.  And the United States is committed to ensuring that the brave Ukrainian people can continue — continue to defend their country against Russian aggression as long as it takes.

 

And I want to thank the members of Congress and their — for their broad bipartisan support to Ukraine.  And I look forward to signing the omnibus — omnibus bill soon, which includes $45 billion — $45 billion in additional funding for Ukraine.

 

I will also sign into law the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes authori- — authorities for — to make it easier for the Department of Defense to procure critical munitions and defense materials for Ukraine and other key materials to strengthen our national security.  

 

Today, I’m announcing the next tranche of our security assistance to Ukraine: $1.85 billion package of security assistance that includes both direct transfers of equipment to — that Ukraine needs, as well as contracts to supply ammunition Ukraine will need in the months ahead for its artillery, its tanks, and its rocket launchers.

 

Critically, in addition to these new capabilities like precision aerial munitions, the package will include a Patriot missile battery, which will — and on which we’ll train Ukrainian forces to operate as part of the ongoing effort to help bolster Ukraine’s air defense.

 

It’s going to take some time to complete the necessary training, but the Patriot battery will be another critical asset for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression.

 

Altogether, today’s new security assistance with humanitarian funding amounts to $2.2 billion in additional support for the Ukrainian people.

 

We should be clear about what Russia is doing.  It is purposefully attacking Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, destroying the systems that provide heat and light to the Ukrainian people during the coldest, darkest part of the year.  Russia is using winter as a weapon — freezing people, starving people, cutting them off from one another.

 

It’s the latest example of the outrageous atrocities that Russian forces are committing against innocent Ukrainian civilians — children and their families.

 

And the United States is working together with our allies and partners to provide critical equipment to help Ukraine make emergency repairs to their power transmission system and strengthen the stability of Ukraine’s grid in the face of Russia’s targeted attacks.

 

We’re also working to hold Russia accountable, including efforts in Congress that will make it easier to seek justice for Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine.

 

Let me close with this: Tonight is the fourth nights of — night of Hanukkah, a time when Jewish people around the world — President Zelenskyy and many of the families among them — honor the timeless miracle of a small band of warriors fighting for their values and their freedom against a much larger foe, and how they endured and how they overcame; how the flame of faith, with only enough oil for one day, burned brightly for eight days.

 

A story of survival and resilience that reminds us that the coldest days of the year, that light will always prevail over darkness, and hope drives away despair; and that the human spirit is unconquerable as long as there are good people willing to do what is right.

 

This year has brought so much needless suffering and loss to the Ukrainian people.  But I want you to know, President Zelenskyy — I want you to know that — all the people of Ukraine to know as well: The American people have been with you every step of the way, and we will stay with you.  We will stay with you for as long as it takes.

 

What you’re doing, what you have achieved, it matters not just to Ukraine but to the entire world.

 

And together, I have no doubt we’ll keep the flame of liberty burning bright, and the light will remain and prevail over the darkness.

 

Thank you for being here, Mr. President.  We’re going to stand with you.

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY:  Thank you so much.  Thank you.

 

(As interpreted.)  Dear Mr. President — please put on the equipment.

 

Once again, Mr. President, President Biden, audience, journalists, ladies and gentleman: I came here to the United States to forward the thank — the word of thanks to the people of America, people who do so much for Ukraine.  I am thankful for all of this.

 

This visit to the United States became, really, a historic one for our relations with the United States and the American leadership.

 

In the last 30 [300] days of this war, we have started a new phase of our inter-relations with the United States.  We became real partners and allies with the content, and I felt today during all of my meetings and during our talks.

 

Once again, I would like to thank Mr. President, President Biden, for his candid support and what is very important — the understanding of Ukraine and for the support of the international coalition to strengthen international law.

 

I am grateful to President Biden for his personal efforts, his steps that unite the partners in Global South.

 

When all countries of the world take some position and are focusing on cooperation and mutual understanding, this is very useful for all of the countries — for Ukraine, for the United States.

 

I want to thank the Congress for bipartisan, bicameral support.  And I am looking forward to good meetings with the members of the Congress and their support.  This is the visit that I’m here today to meet with the Congress.

 

The main issue during today’s talks is to strengthen Ukraine next year — our movement forward to fight for our freedom and independence.

 

I have good news returning home: President Biden announced a new package of defense support — about 2 billion U.S. dollars.  And the strongest element of this package is the Patriot battery systems, something that will strengthen our air defense significantly.

 

This is a very important step to create a secure airspace for Ukraine.  And that’s the only way we would be able to deprive the terrorist country and their terror attack to strike our energy sector, our people, and our infrastructure.

 

We had a very good negotiation and talks about our strategic steps — which we discussed with President Biden — and what we expect next year and for what we are preparing.  This is very important for all Ukrainians, and I am hopeful.

 

And once again, thank you, Mr. President, for $45 billion, because this is a big assistance, and I hope that the Congress will approve this financial assistance for our country.  This is almost $45 billion.  Thank you very much for the support.  Every dollar of this investment for the United States is going to be a strengthening of global security.

 

I know that the American leadership will be strong and will play important role in global scope.  And the United States will help us to defend our values and independence.

 

And regardless of changes in the Congress, I believe that there will be bipartisan and bicameral support.  And I know that everybody works for this.

 

And, of course, during all of my meetings today, we discussed issues of a standoff against the terror of Russia, their destruction of our energy infrastructure.  We need to survive this winter.  We need to protect our people.  And we need to be very specific in this area.  This is a key humanitarian issue for us right now.  This is the survival issue.

 

We are discussing sanctions and legal pressure on the terrorist country of Russia.  Russia needs to be held accountable for everything it does against us, against our people, against Europe, and the whole free world.

 

And it is very important that we have the peace formula.  And for that, we offer very specific steps — what America can do to help us to implement them.

 

We propose global formula for peace summit.  I’m thankful for our American counterparts, that they feel us and understand how important it is to continue and stay on course and work on integrity of the country and international rule of law.

 

We will also need — as soon as our defense capabilities will be strengthened in the next few months.  I don’t want to discuss it in details right now.  I believe you understand why.  And I — but I am very grateful to President Biden.  Thank you for your attention to all of these issues.

 

Glory to Ukraine.  

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Thank you very much, Mr. President.

 

We’re going to take questions from four different reporters.  I’m going to start with Alex of Yahoo News.

 

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  In 2022, you presided over a bipartisan international coalition to support Ukraine.  How will you keep that coalition from fraying in 2023?

 

And, President Zelenskyy, welcome to Washington on this beautiful winter day.  What is your message to the American people?

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Well, in answering your question first, I’m not at all worried about holding the alliance together in NATO and European Union, as well as other nations.

 

(Translation audio is fed over English line.)

 

I assume this is simultaneous?

 

All right.  (Laughs.)

 

Q    Yes, it is.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Okay.  I’ve never seen NATO or the EU more united about anything at all.  And I see no sign of there being any change.

 

We all know what’s at stake here; our European partners all the more so.  They fully understand it.  This is about — we’ve never seen a major invasion of a European country since World War Two.  And they see no signs of it — that Putin is going to do anything to change that unless we resist and we help the Ukrainians resist.

 

We all know what’s at stake: the very idea of sovereignty, the U.N. Charter.

 

Putin thought he would weaken NATO; instead, he strengthened NATO.  I once said to him that if he talked about the — he wanted — wanted to see the, you know, Europe end up being divided.  The — and instead, what did he do?  He produced a more united Europe, with Sweden and Finland joining.

 

So I don’t see any reason to believe there will be any lessening of support.  And as we reach out to our NATO Allies — our Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State — we get continued support.  And not only there, but also from around the world — from Japan and many other countries as well.  So I feel very good about the solidarity of support for Ukraine.

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY:  Thank you for your question.  Thank you very much.  You asked me, “What is the message to the American people?”  You know, I think I will tell you very simple things which are important for me.  And I — and I think so that we have the same values and the same understanding of the life, the sense of the life.

 

My message: I wish you peace.  I think that is the main thing, and you understand it only when the war in your country, when somebody like these terrorists from Russia come to your houses.  And I wish you to see your children alive and adult.  And I wish you to see your children when they will go to universities, and to see their children.  I — I think that is the main thing what I can wish you.

 

And, of course, to be together with us jointly, because we really fight for our common victory against this tyranny.  That is real life.  And we will win.  And I really want win together.

 

Thank you so much.

 

Not “want.”  Sorry.  I’m sure.  (Laughter.)

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  You call on one of your people?  A press person?

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY:  Yeah.

 

(Speaks in Ukrainian.  No translation provided.)

 

Q    Yeah, thank you.  Dmytro Anopchenko, Ukrainian television.  President Zelenskyy and President Biden, I’ve got a question for both of you.  But firstly, as a Ukrainian — and I mean it — I want to thank the United States for supporting my country.  And, you know, my family is in Ukraine.  And I definitely understand they would not be alive today if America will not support my country, both politically and militarily.  So thank you for this.  It’s (inaudible).

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  We will.

 

Q    And as of my question: We entered a new phase of this war.  And you definitely discussed today which path to choose, how the war could come to an end, and what’s next — will it turn into a new counter-offensive or some kind of peace talks.

 

So, Mr. Biden and Mr. Zelenskyy, could you share your vision?  What’s the fair way to end this war?  And how do you understand this words for peace?  Thank you.

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY:  My — my view?

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Your guy.  (Laughter.)

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY:  I think we have — I see.  I see.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Although, I like him very much already.  (Laughter.)

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY:  (As interpreted.)  You have started this question — you have started by stating that your family is in Kyiv.  And without the assistance of the United States — this is absolutely true — the U.S. leadership in this assistance is strong.  And, again, I would like to remind you that your family will be in danger without the armed forces of Ukraine, which are very important.  That concerns your questions, per se.

 

What would you like to hear?  A just peace?  I don’t know.  I don’t know what “just peace” is.  It’s a very philosophical description.  If there is a just war — I don’t know.

 

You know, for all of us, peace — just peace is different.  For me, as the President, just peace is no compromises as to the sovereignty, freedom, and territorial integrity of my country, the payback for all the damages inflicted by Russian aggression.

 

I’m sorry, I’m reminding — I’m talking about children a lot today.  But as a father, I would like to emphasize: You know how many parents lost their sons or daughters on the frontlines?  So, what is just peace for them?  Money is nothing.  And no compensations or reparations are of no consequence.  They live by revenge (inaudible).  I think this is a tremendous tragedy.

 

And the longer the war lasts, the longer this aggression lasts, there will be more parents who live for the sake of vengeance or revenge.  And I know a lot of people like that.

 

So there can’t be any just peace in the war that was imposed on us by these — I don’t know how to describe that because we are in the White House, and I can’t find the proper language — so these “inhumans,” I would say.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Let me respond.  I think we have the — we share the exact same vision, and that a free, independent, prosperous, and secure Ukraine is the vision.

 

We both want this war to end.  We both want it to end.  And as I’ve said, it could end today if Putin had any dignity at all and did the right thing and just said — pulled out.  But that’s not going to happen.  Not going to happen.  It’s not going to happen now.

 

So what comes next?  What we talked about today was we’re going to continue to help Ukraine succeed on the battlefield.  It can succeed in the battlefield with our help, and the help of our European allies and others, so that if and when President Zelenskyy is ready to talk with the Russians, he will be able to succeed as well, because he will have won on the battlefield.

 

And, you know, I — I don’t think we should underestimate the impact this war is having on Russia and the losses they’re suffering.  And you saw just — I think it was two days ago — Putin saying that this is much tougher than he thought.  

 

He thought he could break NATO.  He thought he could break the West.  He thought he could break the Alliance.  He thought he could be welcomed by the Ukrainian people that were Russian-speaking.  He was wrong, wrong, and wrong.  He continues to be wrong.  And the sooner he makes it — it’s clear that he cannot possibly win this war, that’s when — the time we have to put the — this President in a position to be able to decide how he wants the war to end.

 

My turn, huh?

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY:  Please, yes.  Yeah.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Phil Mattingly of — Mattingly of CNN.

 

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  Welcome, Mr. President.

 

Mr. President, to start with you: Your advisors often talk about how important — how critically important you view face-to-face interaction.  I’m wondering, after spending two-plus hours face-to-face with President Zelenskyy, what you learned or what you took from the meeting that perhaps you couldn’t glean or learn in the phone calls or video conferences.

 

And somewhat tied to that, was there any discussion related to the U.S. assessments that Russia would not take escalatory action now that Patriots are being sent, will be del- — a Patriot battery will be delivered?

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Let me answer the first question — the first part of your question.  You know, I get kidded for saying that there’s — all politics is personal.  It’s all about looking someone in the eye.  And I mean it sincerely.

 

I don’t think there’s any, any, any substitute for sitting down face-to-face with a friend or a foe and looking them in the eye.  And that’s exactly what’s happening at this moment.  We’ve done that more than once, and we’re going to continue to do it.

 

And the winter is setting in, and Putin is increasingly going after civilian targets and women and children, orphanages.  This guy is — well —

 

But — but he’s going to fail.  And he’s going to fail.  He’s already failed, because he now knows that there’s no way he’s ever going to occupy all of Ukraine.  There’s no way in which he’s going to be accepted by the Ukrainian people.  And so, he’s failed in the past.  And it was very important for him and everyone else to see that President Zelenskyy and I are united, two countries together, to make sure he cannot succeed.

 

And I think — I may be mistaken, but I know — I judge every leader by the way they — what they say to me, their consistency, and looking me in the eye.

 

This guy — (points to President Zelenskyy) — has in his — to his very soul is who he says he is.  It’s clear who he is.  He’s willing to give his life for his country and all the folks who are with — came with him today.

 

And so I think it’s — he — it’s important for him to know we are going to do everything in our power — everything in our power to see that he succeeds.

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY:  Thank you so much.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  What was the second part of your question?

 

Q    I just asked if you had discussed how the U.S. calculated the escalatory effect of sending a Patriot missile battery to Ukraine.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  I did not discuss that at all with — with the President.  But I — we do not — it’s a defensive system.  It’s a defensive weapon system.  It’s not escalatory.  It’s defensive.  And it’s easy to not — and we’d love to not have to have them use it.  Just stop the attacks.

 

Q    President Zelenskyy, again, welcome.  You mentioned earlier that you wanted to make this trip for a while now.  Why now?

 

And also, can you tell me what you think the message you are sending to President Putin is, given the fact that 24 hours ago, you were on the ground, in the frontlines, with artillery echoing behind you, and now you find yourself in the White House standing next to the President?

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY:  (As interpreted.)  Thank you very much for your question.  As to what is the message for Putin, I am standing here in the United States with President Biden on the same podium because I respect him as a person, as a President, as a human being for his position.  And for me, this is a historic moment.

 

I can send messages to President Biden.  For example, if it’s not serious — you said, “What’s going to happen after Patriots are installed?”  After that, we will send another signal to President Biden that we would like to get more Patriots.  (Laughter.)

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  (Laughs.)  We’re working on it.

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY:  (Speaks English.)  That is our life.  We are in war.  I’m sorry.  I’m really sorry.  (Laughter.)  That is my appreciation.

 

(As interpreted.)  As to President Putin: In 2019, we had a Normandy meeting.  In 2019, I became the President of Ukraine.  And at that time, we were sending maximum messages to President Putin, telling him that there shouldn’t be a full-scale invasion, to stop aggression, to renew our territorial integrity, to find diplomatic solution, or, God forbid, we should not have a full-scale war.

 

At that time, he said, “It won’t happen.”  He was lying.  So what kind of message I can send him after he actually

destroyed our life, is destroying our life?  He can even go further somewhere where the Soviet Union stayed before this, so he might want to invade those territories too.

 

I believe that there is something mortal about his inadequate approach to the world.  Why we need to send him a message?  He needs to be interested in getting attention from the world, because he is not a subject of civilized people.  He should be interested in trying to save something of his culture and history of his country.  So that’s his problem now.

 

(Speaks Ukrainian.)  (No translation provided.)

 

AIDE:  This will be the last question.

 

Q    Olga Koshelenko, 1+1 tv channel.  When the full-scale invasion started, U.S. officials said that Ukraine cannot receive Patriots because, as you said, it might be unnecessary escalation.  And now it is happening.  Right now, today, it is happening.  And now Ukraine desperately needs more capabilities, including long-range missiles — ATACMS.

 

Maybe I sound naïve, but can we make long story short and give Ukraine all capabilities it needs and liberate all territories rather sooner than later?  Thank you.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Well, th- — his answer is yes.  (Points to President Zelenskyy.)  (Laughter.)

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY:  (Laughs.)  I agree.  (Laughter.)

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Let me be straightforward with you here.  Look, the fact is that it’s important to remember that before Russia invaded, we had dedicated an enormous amount of security assistance to Ukraine.  And — and we’ve given Ukraine what they needed when they needed to defend themselves.  And since the invasion, that has resulted in more than $20 billion, in terms of security assistance.

 

Just today, I approved another $1.8 billion in additional assistance to Ukraine for it to succeed on the battlefield.  And we’re focused on working with allies and partners to generate capability in four key areas:

 

Air defense.  As kno- — as we know today, the Patriot is the best of that.

 

Secondly is to — and we’re looking to do more.  We provided hundreds of advanced artillery systems and dozens — from dozens of countries.  

 

Thirdly, we’ve worked with partners to get Ukraine tanks and other armored vehicles.

 

And fourthly, we’ve announced today another 200,000 rounds of additional ammunition.

 

Now, you say, “Why don’t we just give Ukraine everything there is to give?”  Well, for two reasons.  One, there’s an entire Alliance that is critical to stay with Ukraine.  And the idea that we would give Ukraine material that is fundamentally different than is already going there would have a prospect of breaking up NATO and breaking up the European Union and the rest of the world.

 

We’re going to give Ukraine what it needs to be able to defend itself, to be able to succeed, and succeed in the battlefield.

 

And the other piece of this is, you may recall, one of the reasons why I have spent — well, I won’t tell you the calculation, but I’ve spent several hundred hours face-to-face with our European allies and the heads of state of those countries, and making the case as to why it was overwhelmingly in their interest that they continue to support Ukraine.

 

They understand it fully, but they’re not looking to go to war with Russia.  They’re not looking for a third World War.  And I think it can all be avoided by making sure that Ukraine is able to succeed in the battlefield.

 

So, anyway, there’s more to say, but I probably already said too much.  Thank you.

 

Well, thank you all very, very much.  I appreciate your time and attention.

 

And as I said, Mr. President, you don’t have to worry — we are staying with Ukraine as long as Ukraine is there.

 

Thank you all.

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY:  Thank you so much, all you guys.

 

5:20 P.M. EST

 

 

DECEMBER 21, 2022

Statement by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on the Visit of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine

 

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

President Biden has invited President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine to visit Washington D.C. to underscore the United States’ enduring commitment to Ukraine. President Biden looks forward to welcoming President Zelenskyy tomorrow, December 21, at the White House, after which President Zelenskyy will address a joint session of Congress, demonstrating the strong, bipartisan support for Ukraine. Three hundred days ago, Russia launched a brutal assault against Ukraine. In response, President Biden rallied the world to support the people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity. During the visit, President Biden will announce a significant new package of security assistance to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression. The visit will underscore the United States’ steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes, including through the provision of economic, humanitarian, and military assistance.

 

###

 

 

 

 

 

NATO video of the USS Gerald R. Ford in Action

NATO video of the USS Gerald R. Ford in Action

 

The U.S. Navy provides this synopsis with the release of this video:

 

The largest warship in the world, and the US Navy’s newest and most technologically advanced aircraft carrier, is in European waters for its first deployment.

 

The USS Gerald R. Ford recently concluded Exercise Silent Wolverine, a series of maritime drills off the coast of Portugal involving 11 ships from six other NATO Allies. During the exercise, the aircraft carrier launched and recovered strike fighters, surveillance aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft and helicopters while coordinating with ships from Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. Working together in a multinational carrier strike group, Silent Wolverine gave NATO Allies a chance to see the USS Gerald R. Ford in action and familiarise themselves with its systems.

 

The USS Gerald R. Ford made its first foreign port call in Halifax, Canada. Following Silent Wolverine, it visited Portsmouth in the United Kingdom, giving UK and other NATO officials a chance to see the ship in person.

 

The first ship in a new class of super carriers, the USS Gerald R. Ford uses electromagnetic catapults to launch jets, breaking with the steam-powered system used by carriers for decades. This new system requires fewer sailors to operate, and its power levels can be calibrated for specific aircraft, leading to less wear and tear and lower long-term maintenance costs.

 

Footage includes shots of the carrier strike group under sail; the USS Gerald R. Ford launching and recovering aircraft; a replenishment-at-sea operation and shots of maintainers fixing jets in the hangar bay, as well as interviews with USS Gerald R. Ford Captain Paul Lanzilotta, and Royal Canadian Navy Rear Admiral David Patchell, Vice Commander of US Second Fleet.

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HOT IDEAS OF EXTRA LAND FOR
THE DISASTER PREP LAND

BESIDES THE WOLD BIGGEST AND
THE MOST ADVANCED AIRCRAFT CARRIER

 

 

NOVEMBER 23, 2022

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson on
Ukraine Power Outages from Russia’s Missile Strikes

HOME

BRIEFING ROOM

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

 

As Russia struggles on the battlefield, it is increasingly turning to horrific attacks against the Ukrainian people with punishing strikes damaging energy grid infrastructure, and deliberately doing so as winter approaches. These strikes do not appear aimed at any military purpose and instead further the goal of the Putin regime to increase the suffering and death of Ukrainian men, women and children. It also shows Russia is willing to increase the risk of a nuclear safety incident that could not only further harm Ukraine, but affect the entire region as well. The United States and our allies and partners will continue to provide Ukraine with what it needs to defend itself including air defense. Today, we announced an additional $400 million security assistance package that includes additional munitions for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System  (NASAMS) and heavy machine guns to help Ukraine counter these urgent threats. We are in constant touch with Ukraine on its energy infrastructure needs and are working with allies and partners to support Ukraine – including the United States’ provision of $1.5 billion in humanitarian assistance since February with more than $250 million for winterization efforts to distribute heating fuel, generators, shelter repair materials, and blankets. Russia continues to underestimate the strength and resolve of the Ukrainian people and its attempt to demoralize them will fail yet again.

 

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NOVEMBER 15, 2022

Joint Statement of NATO and G7 Leaders on the Margins of the G20 Summit in Bali

HOME

BRIEFING ROOM

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

 

Today, the Leaders of Canada, the European Commission, the European Council, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States met on the margins of the G20 Summit in Bali and released the following statement:

 

We condemn the barbaric missile attacks that Russia perpetrated on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure on Tuesday.  

 

We discussed the explosion that took place in the eastern part of Poland near the border with Ukraine. We offer our full support for and assistance with Poland’s ongoing investigation. We agree to remain in close touch to determine appropriate next steps as the investigation proceeds.

 

We reaffirm our steadfast support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in the face of ongoing Russian aggression, as well as our continued readiness to hold Russia accountable for its brazen attacks on Ukrainian communities, even as the G20 meets to deal with the wider impacts of the war. We all express our condolences to the families of the victims in Poland and Ukraine.

 

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NOVEMBER 04, 2022

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson
on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Visit to Kyiv, Ukraine

HOME

BRIEFING ROOM

 

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak, Minister of Defense Reznikov, and others in Kyiv today to underscore the United States’ steadfast support to Ukraine and its people as they defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity. To that end, Mr. Sullivan announced an additional $400 million security assistance package, which includes refurbished T-72 tanks, unmanned aerial vehicles, and the refurbishment of HAWK surface to air missiles for eventual transfer to Ukraine. He also affirmed the continued provision of economic and humanitarian assistance, as well as ongoing efforts with partners to hold Russia accountable for its aggression.

 

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DW:  Russia's kamikaze drone strikes: A new phase in the war? | Ukraine latest

Oct 18, 2022  Three Russian strikes have hit a "power facility" in Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday.  The attack on the unspecified energy facility comes just a day after deadly Russian drone strikes hit the Ukrainian capital. "Preliminarily, three hits on a power supply facility on the left bank of Kyiv," Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of the Ukrainian president's office said in a statement published on social media. There were reports of the strikes causing several explosions and sending smoke rising over Kyiv.  The city's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said the attack targeted "critical infrastructure" and emergency workers were on their way. Meanwhie, the northern city of Zhytomyr was left without electricity and water supply after the Tuesday morning strikes, its mayor said.  "There is currently no light or water in the city. Hospitals are on reserve (power) supplies," Serhiy Sukhomlyn said on Facebook. Air raid warnings were sounded across Ukraine in the wake of fresh drone and missile attacks from Russia, reports said. On Monday, four people were killed in Kyiv due to a barrage of Russian attacks with so-called "suicide drones." Among the dead were a woman who was six months pregnant and her husband, local officials said. "Ukraine is under attack from the occupiers. They continue to do what they do best: Terrorizing and killing civilians," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had said on Monday.

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the international community to provide more air defense systems in the midst of renewed Russian airstrikes with so-called "suicide drones." "The world can and must stop this terror. When we talk about Ukraine's need for air and missile defense, we are talking about real lives that are being taken by terrorists," he said in a statement published late Monday. "And this is not only Ukrainian interest. The fewer terrorist opportunities Russia has, the sooner this war will end," Zelenskyy added. His comments came after the latest barrage of Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities. Zelenskyy said Monday's attacks were primarily carried out with Iranian-designed combat drones, also referred to as "kamikaze drones." Zelenskyy said that since Sunday evening Ukraine had intercepted 37 such drones and several cruise missiles.

 

Russia military aircraft crashes into apartments near Azov Sea coast

At least 13 people have been killed after a military plane crashed into a residential building in the port town of Yeysk in Russia's southwestern Krasnodar Krai region, Russian media quoted a Health Ministry spokesperson as saying on Tuesday. Russia's Defense Ministry said the crash of the Su-34 bomber set off a fire covering some 2,000 square meters (21,500 square feet),  the state RIA news agency reported. Hours after the accident, Krasnodar Krai Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said emergency services had managed to douse the fire. Yeysk lies on the Azov Sea coast, close to the country’s border with Ukraine, and is home to some 90,000 people, along with a Russian air base.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OCTOBER 12, 2022

Statement of President Joe Biden on
the United Nations General Assembly Vote
Condemning Russia’s Illegal Attempts to Annex Ukrainian Territory

BRIEFING ROOM

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

Today, the overwhelming majority of the world—nations from every region, large and small, representing a wide array of ideologies and governments – voted to defend the United Nations Charter and condemn Russia’s illegal attempt to annex Ukrainian territory by force. 143 nations stood on the side of freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity—even more than the 141 nations that voted in March to unequivocally condemn Russia’s war against Ukraine. Only 4 chose to side with Russia—Belarus, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, and Syria.

 

By attacking the core tenets of the UN Charter, Russia is tearing at the very foundations of international peace and security. The stakes of this conflict are clear to all—and the world has sent a clear message in response: Russia cannot erase a sovereign state from the map. Russia cannot change borders by force. Russia cannot seize another country’s territory as its own. Ukraine is entitled to the same rights as every other sovereign country. It must be able to choose its own future, and its people must be able to live peacefully inside its internationally recognized borders.

 

Nearly eight months into this war, the world has just demonstrated that it is more united, and more determined than ever to hold Russia accountable for its violations. Together with the UN General Assembly, we will not tolerate illegal attempts at annexation or the theft of a neighbor’s land by force. We will stand up for international law, the UN Charter, and the rights and protections it affords to Ukraine and its people – and to every state and people everywhere.

 

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OCTOBER 11, 2022

G7 Statement on Ukraine, 11 October 2022

BRIEFING ROOM

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

1. We, the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), convened today with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Our meeting took place against the backdrop of the most recent missile attacks against civilian infrastructure and cities across Ukraine, leading to the death of innocent civilians. We condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms and recall that indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilian populations constitute a war crime. We will hold President Putin and those responsible to account.

 

2. The G7 firmly condemn and unequivocally reject the illegal attempted annexation by Russia of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions in addition to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol. We solemnly reiterate that we will never recognise this illegal annexation or the sham referenda that Russia uses to justify it.

 

3. Russia has blatantly violated the principles enshrined in the UN Charter. They cannot and do not give Russia a legitimate basis to change Ukraine’s borders. We call upon all countries to unequivocally reject these violations of international law and demand that Russia cease all hostilities and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its troops and military equipment from Ukraine.

 

4. We have imposed and will continue to impose further economic costs on Russia, including on individuals and entities – inside and outside of Russia – providing political or economic support for Russia’s illegal attempts to change the status of Ukrainian territory.

 

5. We deplore deliberate Russian escalatory steps, including the partial mobilisation of reservists and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric, which is putting global peace and security at risk. We reaffirm that any use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons by Russia would be met with severe consequences.

 

6. We condemn Russia’s actions at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant and the pressure exerted on the personnel of the facility. This is a further irresponsible escalation and we will hold Russia responsible for any incident caused by their actions. The safety, security and safeguards of the nuclear facility are paramount and we support the International Atomic Energy Agency’s efforts in this regard.

 

7. We reiterate our call on the Belarusian authorities to stop enabling the Russian war of aggression by permitting Russian armed forces to use Belarusian territory and by providing support to the Russian military. The announcement of a joint military group with Russia constitutes the most recent example of the Belarusian regime’s complicity with Russia. We renew our call on the Lukashenko regime to fully abide by its obligations under international law.

 

8. We reaffirm our full support to Ukraine’s independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty in its internationally recognised borders. In line with international law, in particular the UN Charter, Ukraine has the legitimate right to defend itself against Russian aggression and to regain full control of its territory within its internationally recognised borders.

 

9. We reassured President Zelenskyy that we are undeterred and steadfast in our commitment to providing the support Ukraine needs to uphold its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We will continue to provide financial, humanitarian, military, diplomatic and legal support and will stand firmly with Ukraine for as long as it takes. We are committed to supporting Ukraine in meeting its winter preparedness needs.

 

10. With a view to a viable post-war peace settlement, we remain ready to reach arrangements together with interested countries and institutions and Ukraine on sustained security and other commitments to help Ukraine defend itself, secure its free and democratic future, and deter future Russian aggression. We will continue to coordinate efforts to meet Ukraine’s urgent requirements for military and defense equipment. We look forward to the outcomes of the International Expert Conference on the Recovery, Reconstruction and Modernisation of Ukraine on October 25.

 

11. No country wants peace more than Ukraine, whose people have suffered death, displacement and countless atrocities as the result of Russian aggression. In solidarity with Ukraine, the G7 Leaders welcome President Zelenskyy’s readiness for a just peace. This should include the following elements: respecting the UN Charter’s protection of territorial integrity and sovereignty; safeguarding Ukraine’s ability to defend itself in the future; ensuring Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction, including exploring avenues to do so with funds from Russia; pursuing accountability for Russian crimes committed during the war.

 

12. We are deeply troubled by the deliberate damage to the Nordstream pipelines in international waters in the Baltic Sea and strongly condemn any deliberate disruption of critical infrastructure. We welcome ongoing investigations.

 

13. We will act in solidarity and close coordination to address the negative impact of Russia’s aggression for global economic stability, including by continuing to cooperate to ensure energy security and affordability across the G7 and beyond.

 

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The Group of Seven (G7) is an inter-governmental political forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. In addition, the European Union is a 'non-enumerated member'. Its members are the world's largest IMF advanced economies and liberal democracies;  the group is officially organized around shared values of pluralism and representative government.  As of 2020, the collective group accounts for over 50 percent of global net wealth (which is $418 trillion), 32 to 46 percent of global gross domestic product,  and approximately 770 million people or 10 percent of the world's population. Members are great powers in global affairs and maintain mutually close political, economic, social, legal, environmental, military, religious, cultural, and diplomatic relations. From 2022, Germany has taken over the rotating presidency of the G7, following the presidency of the United Kingdom.

 

The 48th G7 was held on June 26 -  28 which hosted by Germany, President Olaf Scholz, Schloss Elmau, in Bavaria.  G7 members have discussed with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy virtually, and the statement on support for Ukraine was issued.  Also discussed with invited guests about global food security, gender equality and "Investing in a Better Future" on climate, energy and health, and G7 Leaders' Communiqué was issued after the summit meetings.  The 49th G7 meeting will be held in Japan, will be hosted by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on May 19 to 21, 2023.

 

 

 

OCTOBER 10, 2022

Readout of President Joe Biden’s Call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine

BRIEFING ROOM

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., spoke today with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. He expressed his condemnation of Russia’s missile strikes across Ukraine, including in Kyiv, and conveyed his condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured in these senseless attacks.  President Biden pledged to continue providing Ukraine with the support needed to defend itself, including advanced air defense systems.  He also underscored his ongoing engagement with allies and partners to continue imposing costs on Russia, holding Russia accountable for its war crimes and atrocities, and providing Ukraine with security, economic, and humanitarian assistance.

 

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OCTOBER 10, 2022

Statement by President Biden on Russia’s Missile Strikes

BRIEFING ROOM

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

The United States strongly condemns Russia’s missile strikes today across Ukraine, including in Kyiv. These attacks killed and injured civilians and destroyed targets with no military purpose. They once again demonstrate the utter brutality of Mr. Putin’s illegal war on the Ukrainian people.

 

We offer our condolences to the families and loved ones of those who were senselessly killed today, as well as our best wishes for the recovery of those who were wounded.

 

These attacks only further reinforce our commitment to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes. Alongside our allies and partners, we will continue to impose costs on Russia for its aggression, hold Putin and Russia accountable for its atrocities and war crimes, and provide the support necessary for Ukrainian forces to defend their country and their freedom.

 

We again call on Russia to end this unprovoked aggression immediately and remove its troops from Ukraine.

 

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Russian forces launched seven rockets into apartment buildings in Zaporizhzhia, killing at least three people and wounding twelve others. The casualties rose to 17 (including one child) by 9 October. on 8 October An explosion on the Crimean Bridge caused a section to burn and partially collapse.   On 9 October Russian Armed Forces launched six missiles at an apartment block in Zaporizhzhia, resulting in the deaths of 13 people and injuring more than 89 others.  October 10th, 2022:  Russia launched a massive missile strike against the entire territory of Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv killing at least 10 civilians. Putin says that Russia carried out this attack as revenge for the attack on the Crimean Bridge.

Aleksandr Lukashenko announces Belarus will join military operations with Russia.

 

 

Between late-November and early-December 2021, as Russian and Ukrainian officials traded accusations of massive troop deployments in Donbas, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba on 25 November admonished Russia against a "new attack on Ukraine", which he said "would cost [Russia] dear", while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on 21 November called the accusations "[the] hysteria" that "[wa]s being intentionally whipped up" and said that, in their opinion, it was Ukraine who was planning aggressive actions against Donbas.

 

On 3 December 2021 Ukrainian Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov, spoke of the possibility of a "large-scale escalation" by Russia during the end of January 2022, during a session at the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's national parliament).  Reznikov estimated that the Russian military buildup consisted of 94,300 troops.  In early December 2021, an analysis conducted by Janes concluded that major elements of the Russian 41st Army (headquartered at Novosibirsk) and the 1st Guards Tank Army (normally deployed around Moscow) had been re-positioned to the west, reinforcing the Russian 20th and 8th Guards armies that were already positioned closer to the Russo-Ukrainian border. Additional Russian forces were reported to have moved to Crimea, reinforcing Russian naval and ground units that were already deployed there.  American intelligence officials warned that Russia was planning an upcoming major military offensive into Ukraine scheduled to take place in January 2022.

 

Russia began a slow evacuation of its embassy staff at Kyiv beginning in January 2022. The motives for the evacuation remain unknown and were subjected to multiple speculations.  By mid-January, an intelligence assessment produced by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence estimated that Russia was in its final stages of completing a military buildup at the Russo-Ukrainian border, amassing 127,000 troops at the region. Among the troops, 106,000 were land forces, the remainder being naval and air forces. There were 35,000 more Russian-backed separatist forces and another 3,000 Russian forces in rebel-held eastern Ukraine.  The assessment estimated that Russia had deployed 36 Iskander short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) systems near the border, many stationed within striking distance of Kyiv. The assessment also reported intensified Russian intelligence activity. An analysis conducted by the Atlantic Council on 20 January concluded that Russia had deployed additional critical combat capabilities to the region.

 

In late-January 2022, major Russian military units were relocated and deployed to Belarus under the auspices of previously planned joint military exercises to be held in February that year. Namely, the headquarters of the Eastern Military District was deployed to Belarus along with combat units drawn from the District's 5th, 29th, 35th, and 36th Combined Arms Army, 76th Guards Air Assault Division, 98th Guards Airborne Division and the Pacific Fleet's 155th Naval Infantry Brigade.  Ukrainian and American officials believed that Russia would attempt to use Belarus as a platform to attack Ukraine from the north, due to the close proximity of the Belarusian–Ukrainian border to the city of Kyiv.

 

On 19 January 2022, United States President Joe Biden said his "guess" was that Russia "w[ould] move in" to Ukraine but Putin would pay "a serious and dear price" for an invasion and "would regret it".

 

On 20 January 2022, Russia announced plans to hold major naval drills later that month that would involve all of its naval fleets: 140 vessels, 60 planes, 1,000 units of military hardware, and 10,000 soldiers, in the Mediterranean, the northeast Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific, the North Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk.

 

On 28 January, Reuters reported that three anonymous American officials had revealed that Russia had stockpiled medical supplies. Two of the three officials claimed that the movements were detected in "recent weeks", adding to fears of conflict. In an interview with The Washington Post in January 2022, Zelenskyy warned that Russian forces could invade and take control of regions in eastern Ukraine. He also argued that an invasion would lead to a large-scale war between Ukraine and Russia.

 

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On 5 February 2022, two anonymous US officials reported that Russia had assembled 83 battalion tactical groups, estimated to be 70 percent of its combat capabilities, for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and predicted that a hypothetical invasion would result in 8,000 to 35,000 military casualties and 25,000 to 50,000 civilian casualties. The officials anticipated that the possible launch window could start on 15 February and persist until the end of March, when extremely cold weather would freeze roads and assist in the movement of mechanized units.

 

The Kaliningrad, a Ropucha-class landing ship, was among the six landing ships departed for Sevastopol on 8 February 2022.

 

On 8 February, a fleet of six Russian landing ships, namely the Korolev, the Minsk, and Kaliningrad from the Baltic Fleet; and the Petr Morgunov, the Georgiy Pobedonosets, and the Olenegorskiy Gornyak from the Northern Fleet, reportedly sailed to the Black Sea for naval exercises. The fleet arrived at Sevastopol two days later.

 

 On 10 February, Russia announced two major military exercises. The first was a naval exercise on the Black Sea, which was protested by Ukraine as it resulted in Russia blocking the naval routes at the Kerch Strait, the Sea of Azov, and the Black Sea; the second involved a joint military exercise between Belarus and Russia held in regions close to the Belarusian-Ukrainian border, involving 30,000 Russian troops and almost all of the Belarusian armed forces. Responding to the latter, Ukraine held separate military exercises of their own, involving 10,000 Ukrainian troops. Both exercises were scheduled for 10 days.

 

Referring to unspecified intelligence, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, stated an attack could begin at any moment prior to the conclusion of the 2022 Winter Olympics at Beijing on 20 February.  Separately, the media published several reports based on acquired US intelligence briefed to several allies with specific references to 16 February as a potential starting date for a ground invasion.  Following these announcements, the US ordered most of its diplomatic staff and all military instructors in Ukraine to evacuate.  Numerous countries, including Japan, Germany, Australia and Israel also urged their citizens to leave Ukraine immediately.  The next day, KLM suspended its flights to Ukraine, while other airlines shifted their flight schedules to limit exposure across the country.

 

A Russian military helicopter heading south from Minsk, 23 February 2022. Note the "V" symbol.

On 10 February 2022, the Baltic states invoked provisions of the Vienna Document requesting an explanation from Belarus regarding the unusual military activities. The move was followed by Ukraine a day after, where it too invoked Chapter III (risk reduction) of the Vienna Document, requesting Russia to provide "detailed explanations on military activities in the areas adjacent to the territory of Ukraine and in the temporarily occupied Crimea".  According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, no response had been received from Russian authorities within the required 48-hour deadline.

 

On 11 February 2022, U.S. President Biden warned Americans in Ukraine should leave as soon as possible, as a Russian invasion could begin on 16 February 2022.

 

On 13 February, Ukraine requested that an emergency meeting within the OSCE be held within the following 48 hours, at which Russia was expected to provide a response.  

 

On 14 February 2022, a telephone conversation was made by Reznikov and his Belarusian counterpart, Viktor Khrenin, where they agreed on mutual confidence-building and transparency measures. These measures included visits by both defence ministers to their respective country's military exercises (Reznikov to the Russo–Belarusian Allied Resolve 2022 exercise, and Khrenin to the Ukrainian Zametil 2022 exercise). The emergency meeting of the OSCE requested by Ukraine was held on 15 February. However, the Russian delegation to the OSCE was absent from the meeting.

 

On 14 February 2022, Shoigu said units from Russia's Southern and Western military districts had begun returning to their barracks following the completion of "exercises" near Ukraine. However, in a press conference held the subsequent day, Biden commented that they could not verify such reports.

 

On 16 February, the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg refuted Russian claims of retreating troops and said that Russia had continued the military buildup.  The Russia Foreign Ministry called earlier Western warnings of a Russia invasion on this day "anti-Russian hysteria"   while President Zelenskyy called for a "day of unity" in anticipation of Russian threats.

 

On 17 February 2022, top officials from the US and NATO stated that the threat of an invasion remained, as Russia was still actively looking for a casus belli for an invasion against Ukraine, with attempts being made to conduct a false flag operation.

 

On 18 February, Biden announced that he was convinced that Putin had made a decision to invade Ukraine.

 

 On 19 February, two Ukrainian soldiers were killed while another five were wounded by artillery fire from separatists.

 

On 20 February 2022, the Belarusian Ministry of Defence announced the continuation of the Allied Resolve 2022 military exercises, decided Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko and Putin. According to Khrenin, it was due to the "escalation in military activity along the external borders of the Union State and the deterioration of the situation in Donbas". On the same day, several news outlets reported that US intelligence assessed that Russian commanders had been given orders to proceed with the invasion

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2 February: The press center of the Ukrainian Joint Forces recorded four pro-Russian violations of the truce; a Ukrainian soldier was wounded in action. The incidents took place in the eastern area of operations. A Ukrainian checkpoint at Hnutove was the subject of a drone strike; a VOG-17 grenade exploded beside the outpost. Ukrainian positions at Vodiane came under fire from heavy machine guns, anti-tank rocket launchers and 82 mm mortars. Talakivka was shelled with automatic grenade launchers and anti-tank rocket launchers, while Vodiane was hit by anti-tank rockets.

 

5 February: The Ukrainian Joint Forces press center reported six pro-Russian violations of the ceasefire; two Ukrainian soldiers were wounded. All the incidents occurred in the eastern area of operations. Pro-Russian forces launched an attack with two drones on the Ukrainian stronghold of Pavlopil; the unmanned aircraft fired four VOG-17 grenades at downtown, hitting a school building. Ukrainian troops at Pyshchevyk received fire from anti-tank rocket launchers, automatic grenade launchers and small arms. The village of Berezove was attacked with automatic grenade launchers and small arms; small arms fire was also reported at Pisky.   Pro-Russian sources from Donetsk denounced six Ukrainian attacks on their military positions. Ukrainian forces fired different grenade-launcher systems and 120 mm mortars at Novoshyrokivske and Sosnovskoye, in the region of Mariupol, and, in the outskirts of Donetsk city, at Spartak and Donetsk itself. A garage and several civilian vehicles were damaged.

 

8 February: According to the press center of the Ukrainian Joint Forces, pro-Russian forces launched three attacks on their positions along the demarcation line, two of them in the eastern area of operations. Nevelske became the target of a drone strike; the uncrewed aircraft fired a VOG-17 grenade at Ukrainian positions. Pisky was hit by anti-tank rockets. In the northern front, Ukrainian troops at Svitlodarsk received fire from small arms and anti-tank rocket launchers.

 

10 February: The Ukrainian Joint Forces press center reported eight pro-Russian violations of the ceasefire. In the eastern area of operations, Taramchuk was hit by three VOG-17 grenades fired by a pro-Russian drone. Pisky, meanwhile, became the target of different grenade-launcher systems. Ukrainian troops at Hranitne were harassed with heavy machine guns, and small arms fire was reported at nearby Vodiane. In the northern front, Zaitseve received fire from infantry weapons, automatic grenade launchers and anti-tank rocket launchers. Positions at Popasna were hit by small arms and heavy machine gun fire.

 

13 February: OSCE started evacuating its staff from Donetsk city.  

 

15 February: In Moscow, the State Duma approved a motion to ask President Vladimir Putin the recognition of the independence of the separatist republics in Ukraine, with 351 positive votes, 16 negatives and one abstention. According to the press center of the Ukrainian Joint Forces, pro-Russian forces launched four attacks on their positions along the demarcation line, all of them in the northern front. The village of Katerynivka was hit by anti-tank guided missiles. Orikhove was shelled with anti-tank rocket launchers and 120 mm mortars; Stanytsia Luhanska received fire from 82 mm mortars. Lobacheve became the target of anti-tank rockets.  Pro-Russian forces returned fire using artillery.

 

16 February: The main federal investigation agency of Russia, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, claimed to have seen evidence that "'thousands of Russian-speaking civilians' had been killed by Ukrainian forces in the Donbas region". They accused the Ukrainian military of "using lethal weapons of indiscriminate action designed to eliminate people and infrastructure as effectively as possible." Experts said that the claims were propaganda "to justify [Russia's] increasing military build-up on the Ukraine border."

 

17 February: The Ukrainian Joint Forces press center reported to the press that pro-Russian forces had broken the ceasefire on 60 occasions, most of them involving the use of heavy artillery and mortars. In the main incidents in the northern front, residential areas of Stanytsia Luhanska were hit by thirty-two 122 mm artillery rounds. Most of the city was left without power, while a kindergarten was damaged and three civilians were wounded. Novotoshkivke was shelled three times with anti-tank rocket launchers, 120 mm mortars and 122 mm artillery. Pro-Russian tanks opened fire on Ukrainian redoubts at Troitske, supported by 82 mm and 120 mm mortars. Luhansk became the target of 120 mm mortars and 122 mm heavy artillery. In the eastern area of operations, a 152 mm artillery barrage hit Prichepilivka, while antitank guided missiles were fired at Novoselivka. Avdiivka and Nevelske received fire from 120 mm mortars. Russian-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces accused each other of firing across the ceasefire line, "raising alarm at a time when Western countries have warned of the possibility of a Russian invasion any day. The details of the incidents could not be independently confirmed, and the initial reports suggested they were on a similar scale to ceasefire violations that have been common throughout the eight year conflict." Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitors had recorded "multiple shelling incidents along the line of contact" and 870 ceasefire violations

 

18 February: The leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, announced a massive evacuation of civilians to Rostov Oblast, Russia, amid the deteriorating security situation in the region. A similar operation was also announced by the head of the self-styled Luhansk People Republic, Leonid Pasechnik.

 

19 February: The leaders of the breakaway republics in Donbas declared general mobilisation and ordered women and children to evacuate to Russia. Russian intelligence service FSB said that two Ukrainian shells landed on Russian territory. Ukrainian military sources said that the pictures of shells were faked and that "mercenaries had arrived in separatist-held eastern Ukraine to stage provocations in collaboration with Russian special forces."  The Ukrainian Joint Forces press center reported 136 pro-Russian violations of the ceasefire, 116 of them using weapons banned by the Minsk agreements. Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed by separatist artillery fire and four others were wounded. In the main incidents, in the eastern front, Marinka came under fire four times, being the target of 120 mm mortars and anti-tank guided missiles. Novotroitske was pounded on six different occasions with automatic grenade launchers, 82 mm mortars, 120 mm mortars and 122 mm artillery. Starohnativka was shelled four times with 82 mm mortars, 120 mm mortars, 122 mm and 152 mm artillery. Novohnativka received fire on three occasions from 120 mm mortars and 122 mm artillery. In the northern front, pro-Russian tanks engaged Ukrainian positions around Stanytsia Luhanska four times, supported by 120 mm mortars and 122 mm artillery. Krymske was the subject of five attacks using heavy machine guns, anti-tank rocket launchers, 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles, 82 mm mortars, 120 mm mortars and 122 mm artillery. Shchastya was the target, on five occasions, of heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers and 82 mm mortars. Zaitseve received fire three times from 120 mm mortars and 152 mm artillery.

 

20 February: The Ukrainian defense ministry reported a total of 116 ceasefire violations by Russian occupation forces with heavy shelling, including incidents involving weapons banned by the Minsk agreements. Some residents of the separatist-controlled areas told CNN reporters of heavy shelling, its origin unclear. Russian authorities said that 40,000 people were evacuated to Russia, a number CNN was not able to verify independently. A United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees convoy was caught in crossfire at the Shchastia crossing point for international humanitarian organizations.

 

21 February: After a formal petition from the breakaway republics, Vladimir Putin signed the State Duma motion recognising the independence of the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic. Two Ukrainian soldiers were reported killed by shelling in the village of Zaitseve, 30 km north of Donetsk.

 

23 February: Ukraine started drafting reservists aged 18–60 after the president's order.

 

24 February: Russia invades Ukraine with bombings and troops crossing borders. By noon several targets in different locations had been bombed, civilians and military personnel/hardware from both sides were killed and injured.

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On 24 February 2022, Russia, along with the quasi-states DPR and LPR launched an invasion across numerous fronts, including in the Donbas. On February 24 and the present, Russian and allied forces began fighting the battle of Kharkiv, as well as numerous other small clashes aimed at capturing key Ukrainian cities. The Siege of Mariupol began on 24 February, destroying 95% of the city and potentially killing over 22,000 civilians. Between 24 February and 18 April, Russian forces had not conducted much activity along the "Line of Contact," the front line which had more or less remained static since 2014, only launching small-scale reconnaissance efforts as well as small-scale artillery campaigns against Ukrainian military installations.

 

On 11 March 2022, Russian tanks allegedly shelled a care home for the elderly in Kreminna, killing 56 civilians and wounding an unknown number of residents. According to Ukrainian authorities, an additional 15 civilians were abducted by Russian soldiers and taken to separatist-occupied territory in Luhansk Oblast.

 

On 8 April 2022, Russian forces allegedly launched an attack on the Kramatorsk railway station. The attack killed 59 civilians, including seven children, and wounded 114 more. Ukrainian and Western officials decried the attack as "purposeful," a "monstrous war crime," and a "deliberate slaughter," while the Russian Defense Ministry denied the accusations and instead claimed the attack to be a false-flag operation by Ukrainian forces, arguing that the Tochka-U missile used was not a part of the Russian arsenal but rather the Ukrainian one

 

In mid-April 2022, U.S. intelligence reported that Russia was "repositioning" its military units to the Donbas. Russian units from Northern Ukraine battlefronts in Kyiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, and elsewhere were noted by Maxar satellite imagery to be relocating to the Donbas region, while reinforcements from regions in Belarus and Russia supplemented these units.

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov acknowledged the beginning of a new offensive in Donbas, claiming it to be a "very important moment in this entire special operation."  To address the new stage of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron and US president Joe Biden held a meeting with representatives from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Poland, and Romania. They were joined by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel

 

On 22 April the commander of Russia's Central Military District, Rustam Minnekayev, declared that the aim of the "second phase" of the country's invasion of Ukraine was to fully seize Donbas and Southern Ukraine and to establish a land corridor with Transnistria, a Russian-occupied breakaway unrecognized republic internationally recognized as part of Moldova. He added that there was "evidence that the Russian-speaking population is being oppressed" in Transnistria without providing further detail into his accusations. The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine replied to this announcement by describing Russia's intentions as imperialism, saying that it contradicted previous Russian claims that assured that Russia did not have territorial ambitions over Ukraine and that Russia had admitted that "the goal of the 'second phase' of the war is not victory over the mythical Nazis, but simply the occupation of eastern and southern Ukraine".

 

According to Russian sources, the official representative of the LPR forces, Andrey Marochko, stated that in order to secure the LPR land, their, DPR and Russian forces must push the Ukrainian forces away from the LPR's borders for no less than 300 kilometers.   The 300 km claim would mean the full Kharkiv Oblast and Donetsk region, parts of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Zaporizhya Oblast, Sumy Oblast and Poltava Oblast. Russian sources said that the LPR's ambassador in Russia, Rodion Miroshnik, confirmed that LPR troops would continue to participate in the Donbas offensive, saying the presence of Ukrainian units along the LPR's borders would threaten security.

 

The ISW assessed that despite Russia's concentration in the east, they still had territorial ambitions beyond Luhansk and Donetsk Oblast.

 

Beginning in May, Russian troops launched intensified battles—marked by mass artillery campaigns followed by ground assaults—on Ukrainian positions across the front line.

 

By 7 May, the now largely destroyed city of Popasna was captured by Russian and Luhansk People Republic forces, with this being confirmed by the regional governor. By 12 May, it was reported that Russian forces had seized Rubizhne.

 

From 5 May to 13 May, a major battle on the Donets river took place, with Ukrainian defenders successfully repelling multiple Russian attempts to cross the strategic river. The Ukrainian armed forces claimed to have destroyed an entire battalion of Russian forces, killing up to 1,000–1,500 soldiers. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank reported that out of a force of 550 Russian troops, 485 were killed and wounded, as well as 80 vehicles lost.

 

Ukraine claimed to have launched a counterattack against Russian forces near Izium on 15 May. On the same day, it was reported that Russian forces had captured the village of Dovhen'ke, south of Izium.

 

Russian breakthrough (20 May–3 July)

 

President Zelenskyy with the 24th Mechanized Brigade near the front line in the Donbas on 5 June 2022

See also: Battle of Lyman and Battle of Sviatohirsk

Beginning in late May, Russian forces made breakthroughs in many regions across the front line. Russian troops were seen to be using a new "cauldron" approach to their efforts, abandoning large encirclements in favor of smaller ones, which enabled them to make the first major gains of the battle.

 

On 20 May, Russian forces made further advances in the west and south of Popasna, with the aim of cutting off the road to Sievierodonetsk. Despite stiff Ukrainian resistance, Russian forces finally broke through in the Popasna area on 20 May.[90] By 22 May, Russian forces managed to secure their route of advance and attempted to simultaneously push west towards Bakhmut and north to cut off-road links to Sievierodonetsk.

 

Russian forces were reported entering the town of Lyman on 23 May, fully capturing it by the 26th, whereas Ukrainian forces were reported leaving Sviatohirsk. By 24 May, Russian forces captured the town of Svitlodarsk.

 

On 1 June, Ukraine announced that 70–80% of Sieverodonetsk had been captured by Russian forces. On 3 June, Ukraine claimed to have launched a counterattack to take back 20% of the city. On 8 June, however, the Ukrainian Army was pushed back to the outskirts of the city of Sievierodonetsk.

 

By mid-June, the general consensus in the military community was that Ukraine was almost out of ammunition and was heavily outgunned. A senior Ukrainian military official added that Ukraine was reliant on the West to supply weapons, as Russia had an advantage of 10 to 15 times more artillery systems than Ukraine, and that Western rocket systems were needed to destroy Russian artillery.  Furthermore, despite Ukrainian forces using 5,000-6,000 rounds a day, specifically 155 mm Western-supplied rounds, they were still outgunned up to 40-to-1 in some locations.

 

With the breakthrough near Popasna significantly slowed by Ukrainian heavy guns,  Russia began an offensive to the southeast of Popasna, aiming to bypass the Siverskyi Donets river and bombard Lysychansk from the south.  The ISW assessed that Russian commanders had been given the deadline of 26 June to make a breakthrough and seize Luhansk Oblast's full administrative territory.

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Beginning in May, Russian troops launched intensified battles—marked by mass artillery campaigns followed by ground assaults—on Ukrainian positions across the front line.

By 7 May, the now largely destroyed city of Popasna was captured by Russian and Luhansk People Republic forces, with this being confirmed by the regional governor.  By 12 May, it was reported that Russian forces had seized Rubizhne.

 

From 5 May to 13 May, a major battle on the Donets river took place, with Ukrainian defenders successfully repelling multiple Russian attempts to cross the strategic river. The Ukrainian armed forces claimed to have destroyed an entire battalion of Russian forces, killing up to 1,000–1,500 soldiers. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank reported that out of a force of 550 Russian troops, 485 were killed and wounded, as well as 80 vehicles lost.

 

Ukraine claimed to have launched a counterattack against Russian forces near Izium on 15 May. On the same day, it was reported that Russian forces had captured the village of Dovhen'ke, south of Izium.

 

Russian breakthrough (20 May–3 July)

 

President Zelenskyy with the 24th Mechanized Brigade near the front line in the Donbas on 5 June 2022

See also: Battle of Lyman and Battle of Sviatohirsk

Beginning in late May, Russian forces made breakthroughs in many regions across the front line. Russian troops were seen to be using a new "cauldron" approach to their efforts, abandoning large encirclements in favor of smaller ones, which enabled them to make the first major gains of the battle.

 

On 20 May, Russian forces made further advances in the west and south of Popasna, with the aim of cutting off the road to Sievierodonetsk. Despite stiff Ukrainian resistance, Russian forces finally broke through in the Popasna area on 20 May. By 22 May, Russian forces managed to secure their route of advance and attempted to simultaneously push west towards Bakhmut and north to cut off-road links to Sievierodonetsk.

 

Russian forces were reported entering the town of Lyman on 23 May, fully capturing it by the 26th, whereas Ukrainian forces were reported leaving Sviatohirsk.  By 24 May, Russian forces captured the town of Svitlodarsk.

 

On 1 June, Ukraine announced that 70–80% of Sieverodonetsk had been captured by Russian forces. On 3 June, Ukraine claimed to have launched a counterattack to take back 20% of the city.

 

On 8 June, however, the Ukrainian Army was pushed back to the outskirts of the city of Sievierodonetsk.

 

By mid-June, the general consensus in the military community was that Ukraine was almost out of ammunition and was heavily outgunned. A senior Ukrainian military official added that Ukraine was reliant on the West to supply weapons, as Russia had an advantage of 10 to 15 times more artillery systems than Ukraine, and that Western rocket systems were needed to destroy Russian artillery.  Furthermore, despite Ukrainian forces using 5,000-6,000 rounds a day, specifically 155 mm Western-supplied rounds, they were still outgunned up to 40-to-1 in some locations.

 

By 23 June, Russia had fully broken through in the south, seizing Toshkivka and making major gains south of Lysychansk. Russian forces captured Loskutivka [uk], Myrna Dolyna, Rai-Oleksandrivka [uk] and Pidlisne [uk] all on 22 June. On 23 June, Russian forces cut off and surrounded the towns of Hirske and Zolote, which they claimed to have fully captured by next day.   In addition, Russia made a push to fully secure the Azot chemical plant in Sievierodonetsk, which by 14 June had become the last refuge for Ukrainian soldiers in the city. From the north, Russian troops were less successful, attempting to make breakthroughs near Mykolaivka and Bohorodychne, in an attempt to advance on the Donetsk city of Sloviansk. Nonetheless, the Russian advance ground on, with Russia's breakthrough in the south putting pressure on the few remaining Ukrainian defenders of Luhansk Oblast to withdraw to defensive lines near the border with Donetsk Oblast.

 

Russian forces had fully encircled Hirske and Zolote in their drive north to Lysychansk by 24 June. Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces had suffered over 1,000 casualties, including 800 prisoners, in Hirske, Zolote and near Lysychansk over the previous two days.  By 25 June, Ukrainian officials had announced that their troops had retreated from Sievierodonetsk in order to avoid being surrounded by Russian troops, signalling the city's capture.  

 

By 1 July, Russian forces continued encircling Lysychansk from the south and west, attempting to cut off the T1302 Lysychansk-Bakhmut highway from the city. As part of the encirclement, Russian forces claimed to have also seized Pryvillia, northwest of Lysychansk, after units made river crossings to the north and west of the town. Ukrainian positions near Siversk, Bilohorivka, Vovchoyarivka, Berestove, Yakovlivka, Vidrodzhennia, Mayorsk, and the Vuhlehirska thermal power plant were shelled by artillery.

 

With the breakthrough near Popasna significantly slowed by Ukrainian heavy guns, Russia began an offensive to the southeast of Popasna, aiming to bypass the Siverskyi Donets river and bombard Lysychansk from the south. The ISW assessed that Russian commanders had been given the deadline of 26 June to make a breakthrough and seize Luhansk Oblast's full administrative territory.

 

Russian forces had fully encircled Hirske and Zolote in their drive north to Lysychansk by 24 June. Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces had suffered over 1,000 casualties, including 800 prisoners, in Hirske, Zolote and near Lysychansk over the previous two days. By 25 June, Ukrainian officials had announced that their troops had retreated from Sievierodonetsk in order to avoid being surrounded by Russian troops, signalling the city's capture. By 1 July, Russian forces continued encircling Lysychansk from the south and west, attempting to cut off the T1302 Lysychansk-Bakhmut highway from the city. As part of the encirclement, Russian forces claimed to have also seized Pryvillia, northwest of Lysychansk, after units made river crossings to the north and west of the town. Ukrainian positions near Siversk, Bilohorivka, Vovchoyarivka, Berestove, Yakovlivka, Vidrodzhennia, Mayorsk, and the Vuhlehirska thermal power plant were shelled by artillery.

 

On 2–3 July, Russia and LPR separatist forces claimed to have captured and controlled Lysychansk, however Ukrainian officials, including president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had yet to officially acknowledge the strategic city's capture, only saying there were ongoing fierce clashes for the city. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) supported the Russian claim that Lysychansk had fallen on 2 July, suggesting the Ukrainian defenders likely "deliberately withdrew" from the city. Furthermore, the Russian defence ministry claimed to have captured and were in the process of clearing many settlements on the Lysychansk outskirts, including Verkhnekamenka, Zolotarivka, Bilohorivka, Novodruzhesk, Maloryazantsevo, and Bila Hora. Ukrainian officials subsequently conceded that Lysychansk was captured.

 

With the fall of Lysychansk and its western outskirts, Russia and the Luhansk People's Republic declared full control of Luhansk Oblast for the first time, achieving an objective of the Russian-led campaign. Russian shelling of Sloviansk intensified on 3 July.

 

Russian operational pause (4–16 July)

 

Unexploded Russian rocket in Oleksandrivka on 6 July

 

Aftermath of Russian shelling on Metallurg stadium in Bakhmut on 11 July

After fully capturing and occupying Luhansk Oblast, Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered defence minister Sergei Shoigu to continue the offensive in Donbas as planned, adding that units that fought on the Luhansk front "should certainly rest and increase their combat capabilities." According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russian forces made no claimed or assessed territorial gains "for the first time in 133 days of war" and suggested that Russia was likely taking an "operational pause" to rest and regroup its forces before a planned renewed assault. The UK defence ministry expected the city of Siversk to be the immediate tactical objective of their renewed assault.

 

on 4 July said Russian forces would "almost certainly" transition to capturing the rest of Donetsk Oblast, around 55 percent of which was already in control by Russian and Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) separatist forces. The ministry predicted the fighting in Donetsk would continue to be "grinding and attritional," typified by massive artillery shelling leveling towns and cities amid slow ground advances. Ukraine's governor of Luhansk, Serhiy Haidai said he expected Donetsk cities such as Sloviansk and Bakhmut to soon come under heavy Russian attack, and said both cities were increasingly being shelled. Similar to UK intelligence reports, the Ukrainians expected the Russians to push west along the Bakhmut-Lysychansk highway. On 5 July, the mayor of Sloviansk, Vadym Liakh [uk; ru], urged residents to evacuate the city. "The nearest Russian positions are 7-10 km from the city," said Liakh. The governor of Donetsk Oblast, Pavlo Kyrylenko, urged the 350,000 remaining residents to evacuate the province

 

Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai claimed that an attempt by Russian regular and reserve troops to expand a bridgehead on the Donets river had been stalled by a Ukrainian artillery attack. Pro-Russian sources claimed the village of Spirne had been captured and advances were made during renewed ground assaults on the northern Donetsk village of Verkhnokamyansk; the claims were not independently confirmed at the time. Reportedly, both Russian and Ukrainian sources confirmed Ukrainian forces had recaptured the village of Solodke in a limited counterattack.

 

On 11 July, President Zelenskyy dismissed the notion that there was an ongoing "operational pause" by the Russians, citing continued deadly shelling, air strikes, and continued reports of Ukrainian troops "repelling" various Russian assaults. Zelenskyy insisted that 34 Russian airstrikes in the past 24 hours were not indicative of an "operational pause".

 

On 16 July, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the operational pause had finished.

 

By 17 July, Russian forces were in control of 55% of Donetsk Oblast. Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Deputy Minister of Information Daniil Bezsonov stated on 25 July that the DPR expected to capture the entirety of Donetsk Oblast by the end of August. Various Russian and Western sources had previously reported that Russia intended to hold referenda in occupied areas by the first half of September, likely sometime around September 11, which is the unified voting day in the Russian Federation.[138]

 

Between 17–20 July,[citation needed] Russian forces conducted repeated ground assaults east of Siversk and south of Bakhmut, but no major advancements were reported along the front line, with the Ukrainians claiming to have repelled many local assaults.[139] On 21 July, the British defence ministry warned that the Russians were closing in on the Vuhlehirska Power Station, the second largest power plant in Ukraine, and were attempting to make a breakthrough there.[140]

 

On 25 July, Russian forces gained control of Berestove. An LPR representative posted video footage of Wagner Group mercenaries in front of the entrance sign to Novoluhanske online, indicating that Russian troops had advanced into the town located roughly 25 km southeast of the Bakhmut outskirts. Several Russian sources also claimed that Russian forces had captured the Vuhlehirska power plant, located on the northern edge of Novoluhanske, and were actively clearing it, meanwhile the Ukrainian General Staff reported that the Russians only had "partial success" on that front. Pro-Russian sources said Wagner mercenary fighters took part in storming the power station and the fighting lasted several days before the plant was fully controlled by 26 July.[141] The ISW suggested Ukrainian troops likely conducted a "controlled withdrawal" from the Vuhlehirska reservoir area north-west towards Semyhirya.[142] A Ukrainian official confirmed the power plant's capture on 27 July.[143]

 

The DPR's Kalmius Brigade fires Giatsint-B artillery on Ukrainian positions in July 2022. Video released by the Russian Ministry of Defence.

On 26 July, the Ukrainian General Staff stated that Russian forces were fighting in the village of Semyhirya, west of the Vuhlehirska power plant.[144] On 27 July, geolocated video footage posted online showed that Wagner mercenaries had reached Klynove, while pro-Russian Telegram channel Readovka claimed that Russian forces established control over Pokrovske.[145] On 28 July, the Ukrainian General Staff said the Russians made small gains near Soledar and Vershyna and resumed assaults on Avdiivka and Pisky. The Ukrainians accused Russian troops of wearing Ukrainian uniforms during their ground assaults.[146][147] The Ukrainian military claimed to have neutralised 270 Russian and pro-Russian troops and destroyed seven tanks on 28 July, and that that they successfully repelled all assaults on Soledar-Vershnya and the Avdiivka-Pisky fronts.[148][149] However, the separatists claimed Russian and DPR forces in the Avdiivka area had made significant advances north and east of the city.[150]

 

Donetsk and Bakhmut Front

See also: Battle of Avdiivka (2022), Battle of Pisky (2022), Battle of Bakhmut, Battle of Soledar, and Battle of Vuhledar

On 29 July, an explosion killed and wounded scores of Ukrainian POWs in Russian-occupied Olenivka. As of 30 July, the perpetrator of the attack remained disputed.[150] On 30 July, President Zelenskyy ordered all remaining civilians in the Donetsk region to evacuate. Between 200,000 and 220,000 civilians still lived in the unoccupied territory of Donetsk Oblast, according to Ukrainian estimates.[151]

 

On 1 August, the British defence ministry said Russia had made slow progress on the Bakhmut axis during daily assaults in the last four days.[152] Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai alleged that Russian forces were attempting to recruit and mobilise residents in LPR-controlled cities such as Alchevsk.[153] On 2 August, Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu stated that Russian forces had captured six front line settlements in recent days: Berestove, Pokrovske, Novoluhanske, Semyhiria, Hryhorivka, and Stryapivka.[154] On the same day, Russian forces captured Ukrainian positions around the Butivka Coal mine, southwest of Avdiivka, dislodging Ukrainian positions that had been held there since 2015. The Ukrainian General Staff also stated that Russian forces had "partial success" along the Vidrozhennya-Kodema line, about 20 km southeast of Bakhmut.[155]

 

On 5 August, Russian sources claimed that Russian troops were actively fighting at the Knauf Gips Donbas gypsum factory on the southeastern outskirts of Soledar. Meanwhile, separatist authorities claimed that separate DPR brigades and Wagner Group forces had taken control of half of Marinka, but the Ukrainians reported the assaults on Marinka were unsuccessful. Geolocated footage posted by DPR troops also suggested Travneve was likely captured by this day.[156][157] On 6 August, combat footage confirmed that Russian forces advanced into the eastern outskirts of Marinka. On 7 August, Russian forces pierced through the defenses of Pisky and reached the center of the settlement.[158] Russian sources claimed the villages of Volodymyrivka and Stryapivka, located southeast of Soledar, were captured by 9 August.[159] On 10 August, the DPR claimed to have captured Hladosove, west of Travneve. On 11 August, Russian and DPR sources claimed that roughly 90 percent of Pisky had been captured, and combat footage purportedly showed the Russians bombarding the village with TOS-1A thermobaric artillery. The Russian defence ministry claimed to have fully captured Pisky by 14 August,[162] but the Ukrainian military denied that it had been captured. The ISW assessed that Pisky had been captured by 24 August.

 

On 29 August, Russian and DPR forces claimed to have captured Kodema, west of Semyhiria and 13 km southwest of Bakhmut, however the Ukrainian General Staff reported to have repelled the advance on the settlement.  Russian and separatist forces, including elements of Wagner mercenaries, were reportedly continuing to fight for control of Kodema on 31 August.[166] Russian sources claimed that Wagner Group fighters established full control over the entirety of Kodema by the end of the day on September 6. ISW assessed that this claim is likely true. A Russian military correspondent posted footage of soldiers moving freely around streets in Kodema. Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) 3rd Brigade claimed they are also advancing from the outskirts of Horlivka (20 km south of Bakhmut). Russian sources claimed that the 11th DNR Regiment took control of a bridge on the road that runs between Pisky and Pervomaiske (both on the northwestern outskirts of Donetsk City) and are continuing efforts to advance westward on Pervomaiske.

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Ukrainian Counter-Offensives (6 September-Present)

On September 6th, Ukrainian forces began a counter-offensive on the Kharkiv Oblast, which significantly weakened the area of pressure North of Sloviansk, and allowing for Ukrainian counter-attacks around the city of Lyman, captured by Russian forces at the end of May. On October 1st, Ukrainian forces entered Lyman after a short siege, and began operations around the Kharkiv-Luhansk Oblast border to retake Svatove and Kreminna, the first city to be taken during the Battle of Donbas.

 

September 2022

6 September

Artem Bardin, a Russian-installed official in Berdyansk, was seriously injured in a bomb attack.

 

7 September

The US is looking to double its production of 155 mm shells due to a need to replenish US stocks as well as supply Ukrainian needs. The Pentagon wants to increase the number of HIMARS built each month to 12.

 

9 September

Ukrainian forces retook parts of Kharkiv Oblast.

 

10 September

As part of a major counteroffensive, Ukrainian forces recaptured Kupiansk and Izium; according to the UK Ministry of Defence, Russian defences in the Kharkiv region were "likely taken by surprise" By late afternoon, Ukrainian troops were reported to have reached Lysychansk in Luhansk Oblast.  The Russian Ministry of Defence spokesperson Igor Konashenkov responded to these developments by claiming that Russian forces in the Balakliya and Izyum area would "regroup" in the Donetsk area "in order to achieve the stated goals of the special military operation to liberate Donbas". Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said that Ukraine has recaptured 2,000 square kilometres (770 sq mi) since the start of the counteroffensive.

 

11 September

The Russian Ministry of Defense published a map which confirmed that Russian forces in Kharkiv region had retreated to the east bank of the Oskol river.[8] The settlements of Kozachya Lopan,[9] Vovchansk and Lyptsi[10] were confirmed as being under control of Ukrainian forces. By late afternoon, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the formal withdrawal of Russian forces from nearly all of Kharkiv Oblast stating that an "operation to curtail and transfer troops" was underway.

 

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov questioned Russian leadership of the war, writing on Telegram: "They have made mistakes and I think they will draw the necessary conclusions. If they don't make changes in the strategy of conducting the special military operation in the next day or two, I will be forced to contact the leadership of the Defense Ministry and the leadership of the country to explain the real situation on the ground."

 

Kharkiv power plant after missile strike

Following the 2022 Ukrainian Kharkiv counteroffensive, Russia launched missile strikes with Kalibr cruise missiles on critical infrastructure objects, including Kharkiv TEC-5, causing a total blackout and water shutdown in Northeastern Ukraine and the Kharkiv and Donetsk Oblasts.

 

12 September

Ukraine claimed it had reached the Russia–Ukraine border.[17] Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian forces had retaken a total of 6,000 square kilometres (2,300 sq mi) from Russia, in both the south and the east; the BBC could not verify the claims.

 

Thirty-five Russian municipal deputies signed a petition calling for Putin to resign.

 

13 September

On the Kherson front, it was reported that Russian forces had withdrawn from Kiselyovka, a settlement 15 km from Kherson.[20][21] The Ukrainian armed forces announced that the frontline in the Kherson region had advanced by 12 km and that 500 square kilometres (190 sq mi) including 13 settlements had been recovered.

 

Ukrainian Governor of Luhansk Oblast, Serhiy Haidai, stated that Russian forces had left Kreminna three days ago, the Ukrainian flag has been raised by local residents and that Ukrainian forces had not yet entered the town. He also said that Russian forces had fled Starobilsk, adding that the city was "practically empty".

 

14 September

 

Flood after rocket strikes on the dam of Karachunivske Reservoir (Dnipropetrovsk Oblast)

After a phone call with Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told journalists that Putin did not seem to believe that the invasion of Ukraine was a mistake.[needs context] UN Secretary-General António Guterres also said that prospects for a peace negotiation were "minimal".

Russian forces launched eight cruise missiles at the dam of the Karachunivske reservoir causing extensive flooding in Kryvyi Rih and a 2.5 metres (8 ft) increase of water level in the Inhulets River.

 

15 September

The United States announced a $600 million aid package for Ukraine, including additional HIMARS ammunition, "tens of thousands" of 105 mm artillery rounds, one thousand 155 mm rounds, counter-drone systems, winter gear, and night vision devices.

 

16 September

BM-21 missiles and heavy artillery shelled Nikopol, injuring 1 and damaging 11 high-rise buildings, a kindergarten, a school, gas furnaces, and power lines.

 

17 September

Two people were killed as the result of a rocket attack by Russian forces on residential buildings in the town of Chuhuiv.

 

18 September

Britain’s Princess of Wales met Olena Zelenska, the first lady of Ukraine, at Buckingham Palace on Sunday.

 

19 September

See also: 2022 Russian and Ukrainian tornado outbreak

Rocket strike near the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant

The Ukrainian Ground Forces recaptured the village of Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast during their advance on Lysychansk.

 

A Russian missile hit the outskirts of the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant, damaging buildings and a neighboring hydroelectric power station. Nuclear reactors were not damaged.

20 September

The Russian State Duma introduced laws prohibiting voluntary surrender and looting, with aggravating circumstances including committing the crime "during mobilization or martial law". Under those circumstances, refusing to obey a superior's order or participate in military action was also made illegal. Penalties for not reporting for military duty, or leaving it without permission, were increased.

 

The Russian-appointed officials of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics announced referendums to approve their annexation by Russia on 23–27 September. Similar referenda were announced by the occupying Russian officials in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

 

The Council of the EU approved 5 billion euros of macro-financial assistance for Ukraine.

 

21 September

After a delay in broadcasting Vladimir Putin announces a partial mobilization in his address on the morning of 21 September.

In a prerecorded speech, Vladimir Putin officially announced partial military mobilization to begin immediately. Although Putin's address stated only reservists will be called up, with a focus on reservists with military experience, the official decree allowed for any citizen to be conscripted with exceptions for only age, sickness, and imprisonment status; it was reported that anti-war protesters who had been arrested were being conscripted.[38] Furthermore, militants in the Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics will be considered soldiers of the Russian Federation going forward, and the LPR and DPR military units will be reordered according to Russian standards. Defence minister Sergei Shoigu said that 300,000 reservists will be mobilized. Putin also raised the threat of a nuclear response, saying "Russia will use all the instruments at its disposal to counter a threat against its territorial integrity—this is not a bluff".

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia reported that Russia released ten foreign prisoners of war after mediation by Mohammed bin Salman.[42] According to Robert Jenrick, the junior health minister of Britain, Aiden Aslin is among the prisoners released.[43] Viktor Medvedchuk was reportedly freed as part of the deal.

A record high of 215 Ukrainian soldiers, including fighters who led the defence of the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol, have been released in a prisoner exchange with Russia after mediation by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.[45] Zelenskyy anounced that, as part of the agreement, five of the freed captives would remain in Turkey in secure but comfortable conditions until the war is over.

 

23 September

Russian-occupied regions held referendums to join Russia. US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz referred to them as shams.

In Izium, the Kharkiv region, the exhumation of those killed by the occupiers from a mass burial was completed. A total of 436 bodies were exhumed. Thirty have traces of torture.

 

The Armed Forces of Ukraine reestablished control over the settlement of Yatskivka in the Donetsk region. The settlement is east of the Oskil river, which acts as a front line for a large portion of the eastern front.

 

26 September

The United Kingdom introduced new sanctions against Russia due to Russia's holding of pseudo-referendums in occupied Ukrainian territories. The sanctions list includes 92 individuals and legal entities, including 33 Russian officials sent to the occupied territories of Ukraine, as well as 55 top managers of Russian state-owned companies.

 

27 September

More than 1600 Russian propaganda accounts were taken down by Facebook.

 

The Armed Forces of Ukraine retook the village of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi in the Kharkiv region. As of 27 September, up to 6% of the territory of the Kharkiv region remained under occupation.

 

The results of the referendums in the Russian-occupied territories were announced, all of which were in favor of annexation into Russia, with Donetsk 99.23% in favour, Luhansk 98.42% in favour, Kherson 87.05%, and Zaporizhzhia at 93.11%. There were planned votes in the Mykolaiv and Kharkiv oblasts that never materialized, mainly owing to limited control of territory.[53] As a side effect of these referendums, Russia may now claim that the "very existence of the state is at risk", since much of the war is happening on what it now illegally considers Russian territory. This may be used as justification of using nuclear weapons.

Over 194,000 Russian citizens, primarily fighting age men and their families, have left Russia in what has been called a “mass exodus” after the announcement of a draft of 300,000 citizens to fight in the war. Many have gone to Kazakhstan, Serbia, Georgia and Finland.

 

28 September

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg attributed the Nord Stream pipeline leaks to acts of sabotage. The next day, the Swedish coast guard found a fourth leak on Nord Stream 2.

 

The Ukrainian police have recorded at least 582 war crimes committed by Russia in the formerly occupied territories of the Kharkiv Oblast.

The United States announced a $1.1 billion aid package to Ukraine,[60] including:

 

18 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and ammunition

150 Armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (Humvee)

150 tactical vehicles to tow weapons

40 trucks and 80 trailers

2 radars for unmanned aerial systems

20 multi-mission radars

29 September

Finland announced the closure of its borders to Russian citizens at midnight.[64] The Finnish Government deemed that the Russian mobilization and the rapidly increasing volume of tourists arriving in and transiting via the country endanger Finland’s international position and relations.

 

Ukraine fully captured Kupiansk. Russian soldiers held positions on the eastern beach of the river Oskil that flows through the city. Exchange of fire happened until the positions had been taken.

 

Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the sovereignty and independence of Kherson Oblast and Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

 

30 September

 

Vladimir Putin with Vladimir Saldo, Yevgeny Balitsky, Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik, the leaders of the Russian-installed administrations for four Ukrainian regions (Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk) that were formally annexed by Russia on 30 September.

At least thirty civilians died and dozens more were injured in Zaporizhzhia when a Russian missile hit a humanitarian convoy.

 

Putin held a speech in a so-called "signing ceremony" intended to mark the annexation of Russian-occupied territories in southern and eastern Ukraine. In the speech, Putin announced claims on Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, saying they were now "four new regions" of the Russian Federation.[70] In response, Zelenskyy asked NATO to give Ukraine membership into the military alliance.

 

1 October

Ukrainian troops raised the Ukrainian flag at an entrance to the city of Lyman. Russia confirmed that it had lost control of Lyman later that afternoon.

 

Zelenskyy formally announced the "liberation" of Yampil, a town near Lyman.

 

Kyiv announced the deaths of 24 citizens, 13 of whom were children, in a Russian strike in Kharkiv.

 

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov called on Putin to take "more drastic measures", including martial law and the use of low-yield nuclear weapons. This is in response to the Russian withdrawal from Lyman where he placed blame on communication among leadership and supply issues.

2 October

A Ukrainian armoured offensive burst through Russian lines in the south capturing multiple villages along the Dnieper river. This was the biggest Ukrainian advance in the south since the war began.

 

3 October

It was reported that Russian forces had fled from Nyzhe Zolone, Pidlyman, Nyznya Zhuravka, Borova and Shyikivka in Kharkiv Oblast and that Ukrainian authorities had regained control of those settlements, effectively ending the Russian occupation of Kharkiv Oblast.

 

4 October

According to Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, more than 200,000 people have been called up for military service since Russia announced a "partial mobilization".

 

The US announced a new package of $625 million to Ukraine. They also sent 4 more HIMARS rocket artillery systems.

 

Ukrainian forces regained control of numerous settlements north of the Dnieper River in Kherson Oblast including Davydiv Brid, Lyubymivka, Khreshchenivka, Zolota Balka, Bilyaivka, Ukrainka, Velyka Oleksandrivka and Mala Oleksandrivka.

 

5 October

The pro-Russian deputy head of the Kherson region, Kirill Stremousov, stated that Russian forces were regrouping in order to strike back at Ukrainian troops; he added that the Ukrainian advance had been "halted" and therefore it was "not possible" for the Ukrainian Army to break through to the city of Kherson. The Russians were seemingly retreating to fortified positions around Nova Kakhovka.  Russian officers (but not troops) were reported as withdrawing from Snihurivka.

 

6 October

According to CNN, unidentified "US intelligence officials" believe that the car bombing of Darya Dugina may have been authorized "by elements within the Ukrainian government".

 

Ukrainian authorities found two mass graves in liberated Lyman.

 

Russian forces launched seven rockets into apartment buildings in Zaporizhzhia, killing at least three people and wounding twelve others. The casualties rose to 17 (including one child) by 9 October.

8 October

An explosion on the Crimean Bridge caused a section to burn and partially collapse.

 

9 October

Russian Armed Forces launched six missiles at an apartment block in Zaporizhzhia, resulting in the deaths of 13 people and injuring more than 89 others.

 

10 October

Russia launched a massive missile strike against the entire territory of Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv killing at least 10 civilians. Putin says that Russia carried out this attack as revenge for the attack on the Crimean Bridge.

 

Aleksandr Lukashenko announces Belarus will join military operations with Russia

 

 

OCTOBER 04, 2022

Readout of President Biden’s Call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

 

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, spoke today with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine to underscore that the United States will never recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Ukrainian territory. President Biden pledged to continue supporting Ukraine as it defends itself from Russian aggression for as long as it takes, including the provision today of a new $625 million security assistance package that includes additional weapons and equipment, including HIMARS, artillery systems and ammunition, and armored vehicles.  President Biden also affirmed the continued readiness of the United States to impose severe costs on any individual, entity, or country that provides support to Russia’s purported annexation. He welcomed the success of the agreement that has allowed the safe export of Ukrainian grain to global markets and the need to ensure that continues.  In addition, President Biden noted the ongoing efforts of the United States to rally the world behind Ukraine’s efforts to defend its freedom and democracy, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

 

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Putin’s Crimea Bridge Fire Live | Fire Engulfs Only Bridge Connecting Russia To Crimea | Live News

 October 7th, 2022: 1:02 AM : 16 minutes ago  Putin’s Crimea Bridge Fire Live | Russia Ukraine War Live Update :

A day after Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated his 70th birthday, a fuel tank exploded on Europe’s longest bridge, which links Russia to the annexed territory of Crimea. The bridge is crucial for Russia as it would use it to deliver lethal weapons to Ukraine.

 

 

 

Statement from President Biden on Russia’s Attempts to Annex Ukrainian Territory

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

 

The United States condemns Russia’s fraudulent attempt today to annex sovereign Ukrainian territory. Russia is violating international law, trampling on the United Nations Charter, and showing its contempt for peaceful nations everywhere.

 

Make no mistake: these actions have no legitimacy. The United States will always honor Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders. We will continue to support Ukraine’s efforts to regain control of its territory by strengthening its hand militarily and diplomatically, including through the $1.1 billion in additional security assistance the United States announced this week.

 

In response to Russia’s phony claims of annexation, the United States, together with our Allies and partners, are announcing new sanctions today. These sanctions will impose costs on individuals and entities — inside and outside of Russia — that provide political or economic support to illegal attempts to change the status of Ukrainian territory. We will rally the international community to both denounce these moves and to hold Russia accountable. We will continue to provide Ukraine with the equipment it needs to defend itself, undeterred by Russia’s brazen effort to redraw the borders of its neighbor. And I look forward to signing legislation from Congress that will provide an additional $12 billion to support Ukraine.

 

I urge all members of the international community to reject Russia’s illegal attempts at annexation and to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes.

 

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Oct 6, 2022  Vladimir Putin makes a televised video call with Russian teachers, telling them the Kremlin is 'working on the assumption that the situation in the new territories will stabilise'

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Statement from President Biden on Russia’s Sham Referenda in Ukraine

SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

 

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

 

The United States will never recognize Ukrainian territory as anything other than part of Ukraine. Russia’s referenda are a sham – a false pretext to try to annex parts of Ukraine by force in flagrant violation of international law, including the United Nations Charter. We will work with our allies and partners to impose additional swift and severe economic costs on Russia. The United States stands with our partners around the world – and with every nation that respects the core tenets of the UN charter – in rejecting whatever fabricated outcomes Russia will announce. We will continue to support the Ukrainian people and provide them with security assistance to help them defend themselves as they courageously resist Russia’s invasion.

 

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Readout of President Biden’s Call with
President Zelenskyy of Ukraine

AUGUST 25, 2022

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

 

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. He congratulated Ukraine on its Independence Day and expressed his admiration for the people of Ukraine, who have inspired the world as they defended their country’s sovereignty over the past six months. He reaffirmed the United States’ continued support for Ukraine and provided an update on the ongoing provision of security assistance, including yesterday’s announcement of nearly $3 billion to support Ukraine’s defense capabilities for the long term. The two leaders also called for Russia to return full control of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant to Ukraine and for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to the plant.  

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An April 2022 survey by the Levada Centre reported that approximately 74% of the Russians polled supported the "special military operation" in Ukraine, suggesting that Russian public opinion has shifted considerably since 2014. According to some sources, a reason many Russians supported the "special military operation" has to do with the propaganda and disinformation. In addition, it has been suggested that some respondents did not want to answer pollsters' questions for fear of negative consequences.  At the end of March, a poll conducted in Russia by the Levada Center concluded the following: When asked why they think the military operation is taking place, respondents said it was to protect and defend civilians, ethnic Russians or Russian speakers in Ukraine (43%), to prevent an attack on Russia (25%), to get rid of nationalists and “denazify” Ukraine (21%), and to incorporate Ukraine and/or the Donbas region into Russia (3%)."

On 28 April 2022, US President Joe Biden asked Congress for an additional $33 billion to assist Ukraine, including $20 billion to provide weapons to Ukraine.  On 5 May, Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that Ukraine had received more than $12 billion worth of weapons and financial aid from Western countries since the start of Russia's invasion on 24 February.  On 21 May 2022, the United States passed legislation providing $40 billion in new military and humanitarian foreign aid to Ukraine, marking a historically large commitment of funds. In August 2022, U.S. defense spending to counter the Russian war effort exceeded the first 5 years of war costs in Afghanistan. The Washington Post reported that new U.S. weapons delivered to the Ukrainian war front suggest a closer combat scenario with more casualties. The United States looks to build "enduring strength in Ukraine" with increased arms shipments and a record-breaking $3 billion military aid package.
 

US and international officials continued to report the active presence of Russian military in eastern Ukraine, including in the Debaltseve area". In January, Ukrainian troops struggled to counter artillery fire, due to Russian-supplied drones and jamming. Russian separatists forces were estimated to number around 36,000 troops (compared to 34,000 Ukrainian), of whom 8,500–10,000 were Russian soldiers. Additionally, around 1,000 GRU troops were operating in the area. Another estimate held that Ukrainian forces outnumbered Russian forces 40,000 to 20,000

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the international sanctions during the 2022  Russian invasion of Ukraine which occured by the United States, the European Union, and other countries  introduced or significantly expanded sanctions to include Vladimir Putin and other government members, and cut off "selected Russian banks" from the SWIFT network triggering the 2022 Russian financial crisis and a massive international boycott of Russia and Belarus, which supports the invasion.-

 

 

Statement from President Biden on Ukraine Independence Day

AUGUST 24, 2022

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

 

On behalf of all Americans, I congratulate the people of Ukraine on their Independence Day. Over the past six months, Ukrainians have inspired the world with their extraordinary courage and dedication to freedom.  They have stood resolute and strong in the face of Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine. And today is not only a celebration of the past, but a resounding affirmation that Ukraine proudly remains – and will remain – a sovereign and independent nation.
 

The United States of America is committed to supporting the people of Ukraine as they continue the fight to defend their sovereignty. As part of that commitment, I am proud to announce our biggest tranche of security assistance to date: approximately $2.98 billion of weapons and equipment to be provided through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.  This will allow Ukraine to acquire air defense systems, artillery systems and munitions, counter-unmanned aerial systems, and radars to ensure it can continue to defend itself over the long term.
 

I know this independence day is bittersweet for many Ukrainians as thousands have been killed or wounded, millions have been displaced from their homes, and so many others have fallen victim to Russian atrocities and attacks. But six months of relentless attacks have only strengthened Ukrainians’ pride in themselves, in their country, and in their thirty-one years of independence. Today and every day, we stand with the Ukrainian people to proclaim that the darkness that drives autocracy is no match for the flame of liberty that lights the souls of free people everywhere. The United States, including proud Ukrainian-Americans, looks forward to continuing to celebrate Ukraine as a democratic, independent, sovereign and prosperous state for decades to come.
 

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FACT SHEET: The United States Continues to Strengthen Cooperation with
G7 on 21st Century Challenges, including those Posed by
the People’s Republic of China (PRC)

JUNE 28, 2022

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

 

Today President Biden met with G7 leaders to strengthen our cooperation on economic issues, cyberspace and quantum, and other 21st century challenges, including those posed by China to our workers, companies, and national security. The G7, representing over 50% of the world economy, is demonstrating that it is among the most potent institutions in the world today, with like-minded democracies solving problems.  

 

Committing to a unified approach to confront China’s unfair economic practices:  The G7 will release collective, unprecedented language acknowledging the harms caused by the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) non-transparent, market-distorting industrial directives. They will commit to working together to develop a coordinated approach to remedy the PRC’s non-market policies and practices to ensure a level playing field for businesses and workers.

 

Elevating supply chain resilience: The G7 will share insights and best practices to identify, monitor, and minimize vulnerabilities and logistic bottlenecks in advance of supply chain shocks, as well as coordinate on long-term risk that undermine global security and stability. The G7 will make a commitment to intensify development of responsible, sustainable, and transparent critical minerals supply chains and establish a forward strategy that takes into account processing, refining and recycling.

 

Cooperating on Cyber and Quantum Technology: The G7 will make a commitment to intensify and elevate our cyber cooperation; working with our close partners to achieveaccountability and increasing stability and security in cyberspace. The G7 will also commit to new cooperation to deploy quantum resistant cryptography with the goal of ensuring secure interoperability between ICT systems and fostering growth in the digital economy.

 

Advancing Trade and Technology Council standards for democratic, market-oriented approaches to trade: The G7 will include a commitment to standards in technology, trade and innovation that represent our values as G7 partners compete with China. Through fora, such as the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council, we will demonstrate to the world how democratic and market-oriented approaches to trade, technology, and innovation can improve the lives of our citizens and be a force for greater prosperity.  

 

Improving the multilateral framework for debt restructuring: The G7 will underscore its commitment to successfully implementing the G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatments beyond the Debt Service Suspension Initiative. The G7 will urge all relevant creditors, including non-Paris Club countries – such as China – and private creditors, to contribute constructively to the necessary debt treatments as requested. The G7 will also reaffirm its commitment to promoting transparency across all debtors and creditors for improved debt sustainability.

 

Committing to tackle forced labor and upholding human rights:  The G7 will condemn a range of human rights abuses occurring globally, including abuses linked to Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine, the PRC’s repression in Xinjiang and Tibet,the military coup in Burma, and ongoing suppression of freedom in Iran.  The G7 will also commitd to accelerate progress to tackle forced labor, with the goal of removing all forms of forced labor from global supply chains, including state-sponsored forced labor, such as in Xinjiang. G7 countries committed to take further measures to strengthen cooperation, including through increased transparency and business risk advisories, and other measures to address forced labor globally.As one important example of action to combat forced labor in the PRC, the United States is implementing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which President Biden signed into law in December 2021.  

 

Reaffirming the Importance of Democratic Resilience:  The G7 Leaders – along with the leaders of Argentina, India, Indonesia, Senegal, and South Africa – released a statement on Democratic Resilience, affirming the importance of strengthening resilience to authoritarian threats within our own democracies and around the world. This Statement will amplify the shared democratic values across G7 countries; condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an attack on democracy; affirm the importance of civil society and independent media; and outline how G7 members will strengthen actions in response to rising foreign threats related to illicit finance and corruption, foreign malign influence, and transnational repression.

 

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G7 is the The Group of Seven (G7) which is an inter-governmental political forum

consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

In addition, the European Union is a 'non-enumerated member'. Its members are the world's largest IMF advanced economies and liberal democracies;  the group is officially organized around shared values of pluralism and representative government.  As of 2020, the collective group accounts for over 50 percent of global net wealth (which is $418 trillion),  32 to 46 percent of global gross domestic product, and approximately 770 million people or 10 percent of the world's population. Members are great powers in global affairs and maintain mutually close political, economic, social, legal, environmental, military, religious, cultural, and diplomatic relations.

 

From 2022, Germany has taken over the rotating presidency of the G7, following the presidency of the United Kingdom.

 

Originating from an ad hoc gathering of finance ministers in 1973, the G7 has since become a formal, high-profile venue for discussing and coordinating solutions to major global issues, especially in the areas of trade, security, economics, and climate change. Each member state's head of government or head of state, along with the Commission President and Council President of the European Union, meet annually at the G7 Summit; other high-ranking officials of the G7 and the EU meet throughout the year.

 

Representatives of other states and international organizations are often invited as guests, with Russia having been a formal member (as part of the Group of Eight) from 1997 to 2014.

At the conclusion of G7 meeting in Berlin in May 2022, the climate, energy and environment ministers made a new pledge to decarbonize electricity sectors by 2035. They also committed to an eventual phase out of coal power generation but did not gave a deadline when. Their decision was based on the backdrop of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War which has given a renewed sense of urgency to expedite the transition to cleaner energy source. This decision will also be pitched to a wider G20 group which together produce 80% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Phil Macdonald, Chief operating officer of the climate and energy research group Ember said "the science shows that decarbonizing electricity by 2035 is the quickest and cheapest way to Net Zero".-

 

 

Proclamation on Increasing Duties on Certain Articles from the Russian Federation

JUNE 27, 2022

PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS

 

1.  On April 8, 2022, I signed the Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act (19 U.S.C. 2434 note) (Suspending NTR Act).  Section 3(a) of the Suspending NTR Act suspended nondiscriminatory tariff treatment for products of the Russian Federation and of the Republic of Belarus, and imposed the rates of duty set forth in column 2 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) on all products of the Russian Federation and of the Republic of Belarus, effective as of April 9, 2022.  Section 3(b)(1) of the Suspending NTR Act provides that the President may proclaim increases in the column 2 rates of duty applicable to products of the Russian Federation and of the Republic of Belarus.

 

     2.  On April 8, 2022, I signed the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act (22 U.S.C. 8923 note).  Section 2 of the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act prohibits imports of all products of the Russian Federation classified under chapter 27 of the HTSUS, in a manner consistent with any implementation actions issued under Executive Order 14066 of March 8, 2022.

 

3.  In Executive Order 14066 of March 8, 2022, I prohibited, inter alia, importation into the United States of the following products of Russian Federation origin:  crude oil; petroleum; petroleum fuels, oils, and products of their distillation; liquefied natural gas; coal; and coal products.

 

4.  In Executive Order 14068 of March 11, 2022, I prohibited, inter alia, the importation into the United States of the following products of Russian Federation origin:  fish, seafood, and preparations thereof; alcoholic beverages; and non-industrial diamonds.

 

5.  In accordance with section 3(b)(1) of the Suspending NTR Act, I have determined that increasing the column 2 rates of duty to 35 percent ad valorem on certain other products of the Russian Federation, the importation of which has not already been prohibited, is warranted and consistent with the foreign policy interests of the United States.  These products are listed in Annex A to this proclamation.  The United States will monitor the implementation of the increased duties, and I may revisit this determination, as appropriate.

 

6.  Section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), authorizes the President to embody in the HTSUS the substance of statutes affecting import treatment, and actions thereunder, including the removal, modification, continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import restriction.

 

Now, Therefore, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 3 of the Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act; section 301 of title 3, United States Code; and section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, do hereby proclaim as follows:

 

     (1)  To increase the column 2 rates of duty on imports of certain articles of the Russian Federation as set forth in paragraph 5 of this proclamation, HTSUS heading 9903.90.08 and new U.S. Note 30 to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS are provided for in Annex A to this proclamation.   

 

(2)  The modifications to the HTSUS made by clause 1 of this proclamation shall be effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on the day that is 30 days after the date of this proclamation and shall continue in effect, unless such actions are expressly reduced, modified, or terminated.

 

(3)  General Note 3(b) to the HTSUS is amended to add the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation to the list of countries subject to column 2 duties.  This amendment is provided in Annex B to this proclamation.

 

(4)  Any provision of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that is inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation is superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-sixth.

 

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

 

FACT SHEET: The United States and G7 to Take Further Action to
Support Ukraine and Hold the Russian Federation Accountable

JUNE 27, 2022

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

 

In Germany today, President Biden will meet with G7 leaders and President Zelenskyy to continue delivering on our unwavering, unified commitment to support Ukraine and build on our unprecedented sanctions to hold President Putin accountable.  The G7 will issue a statement of support for Ukraine, which will include significant new sanctions commitments to further intensify our economic measures against Russia.

 

The United States has rallied over 30 allies and partners around the world to impose drastic costs on Russia and the U.S. led coalition will continue to increase pressure on Putin. In the span of a few months, U.S. exports to Russia, including of critical technology inputs Putin needs to maintain his military, have decreased approximately 97%. Russia’s imports of goods from around the world could fall by 40%. Factories across Russia are struggling to maintain production. Russia’s GDP will likely decline by double digits, inflation is rising to over 20%, Russia’s struggling to make bond payments, and Russia’s defaulted on its sovereign debt for the first time in more than a century.  

 

Our measures will continue to sap Putin’s military-industrial complex of critical components, prevent the central bank’s foreign reserves from propping up an ailing economy and deprive Putin of the resources he needs to wage his war, and hold the kleptocracy to account for its ill-gotten gains. The effectiveness of our measures will only compound over time to further isolate Russia from the world economy.

 

The United States, in coordination with the G7, will implement significant commitments, including sanctions on hundreds of individuals and entities that adds to the over 1,000 already sanctioned, take action on evasion by targeting companies in several countries that adds to the over 300 Entity Listings already in place; impose tariffs on hundreds of Russian products worth billions of dollars to Russia, among other things:

 

 

Measures targeting the Russian military production and supply chains. G7 Leaders will align and expand targeted sanctions to further restrict Russia’s access to key industrial inputs, services, and technologies produced by our economies, particularly those supporting Russia’s armament industrial base and technology sector.  The United States Departments of State and the Treasury will aggressively target Russian defense supply chains by imposing blocking sanctions on major state-owned defense enterprises, in addition to defense research organizations, and dozens of other defense-related entities and individuals and limit Russia’s ability to replace the military equipment it has already lost during its brutal war against Ukraine.

 

Using tariffs on Russian goods to help Ukraine. Earlier this year, G7 leaders committed to strip Russia of “most favored nation” trading status, which guaranteed low tariff rates for Russian goods sold globally. President Biden and other G7 leaders will seek authority to use revenues collected by new tariffs on Russian goods to help Ukraine and to ensure that Russia pays for the costs of its war. President Biden is also announcing that, pursuant to Congress’s revocation of Russia’s trade status in the U.S., the U.S. will implement a higher tariff rate on more than 570 groups of Russian products worth approximately $2.3 billion to Russia. These measures will restrict Russia’s ability to benefit economically from sales to the U.S. market and are carefully calibrated to impose costs on Russia, while minimizing costs to U.S. consumers.

 

Restrictions on Russia’s participation in the global market and further crack downs on evasion attempts. G7 Leaders are determined to limit Russia’s revenues, including from gold, Russia’s second largest export after energy. The United States will take several key actions to implement these commitments. The U.S. Department of the Treasury will be issuing a determination to prohibit the import of new gold into the United States, which will prevent Russian participation in the formal gold market. G7 Leaders will also commit to continue to target efforts by those engaging in evasion and backfill activities. The U.S. Department of Commerce will take its first action against companies engaging in backfill activities in support of Russia by adding several companies around the world to the Entity List, which will prohibit those companies from purchasing U.S.-made origin goods and technologies, such as semiconductors. State and Treasury will implement blocking sanctions against persons tied to aiding Russia’s evasion efforts. Commerce and Treasury will jointly issue an alert to financial institutions to aid in detecting potential violations of export controls.  

 

Imposition of costs on those responsible for human rights abuses – including war crimes, profiteering, and illegitimate authorities. G7 Leaders will decide to impose sanctions on those responsible for human rights abuses – including war crimes, exercising illegitimate authority in Ukraine, and involved in Russia’s tactics to steal Ukrainian grain or otherwise profit illegitimately from the war. The U.S. Departments of Treasury and State will implement blocking sanctions on private military companies operating in Ukraine, Russian military units that have been credibly implicated in human rights abuses or violations of international humanitarian law in Ukraine, and Russia-installed senior officials in areas besieged or held by Russia’s forces, including ministers and mayors of contested cities. State will impose visa restrictions on approximately 500 officials for threatening or violating Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, or political independence, or suppressing dissent in Russia.

 

A significant G7 Commitment for Budgetary Support and other support for Ukraine. The G7 will commit to help Ukraine cover its short-term budgetary funding shortfalls, including a $7.5 billion commitment from the United States from the recently passed second supplemental. Leaders will also make an unprecedented, long-term security commitment to providing Ukraine with financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support as long as it takes. The commitment by the leaders will include maintaining Ukraine’s credible military readiness and defense, including through the timely provision of modern defense equipment and advanced weapons systems.

 

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Statement by President Joe Biden on Support for Ukraine and
Call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine

JUNE 15, 2022

STATEMENTS AND RELEASESStatement

 

This morning, I spoke with President Zelenskyy to discuss Russia’s brutal and ongoing war against Ukraine. I reaffirmed my commitment that the United States will stand by Ukraine as it defends its democracy and support its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of unprovoked Russian aggression.

 

I informed President Zelenskyy that the United States is providing another $1 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, including additional artillery and coastal defense weapons, as well as ammunition for the artillery and advanced rocket systems that the Ukrainians need to support their defensive operations in the Donbas. We also discussed Secretary Austin’s efforts in Brussels today to coordinate additional international support for the Ukrainian armed forces.

 

We also remain committed to supporting the Ukrainian people whose lives have been ripped apart by this war. Today, I am also announcing an additional $225 million in humanitarian assistance to help people inside Ukraine, including by supplying safe drinking water, critical medical supplies and health care, food, shelter, and cash for families to purchase essential items.

 

The bravery, resilience, and determination of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire the world. And the United States, together with our allies and partners, will not waver in our commitment to the Ukrainian people as they fight for their freedom.

 

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Guidance On Scientific and Technological Cooperation with
the Russian Federation for U.S. Government and
U.S. Government Affiliated Organizations

JUNE 11, 2022

PRESS RELEASES

 

The United States is committed to international scientific cooperation that flows from the mutual recognition of shared values, including scientific freedom, openness, transparency, honesty, equity, fair competition, objectivity, and democratic principles. The Kremlin’s unlawful and unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine is an affront to the principles we seek to affirm and our efforts to advance international science, technology, and innovation for development. We remain concerned that the Kremlin continues to leverage state-controlled institutions to aid in its disinformation campaign against Ukraine. In response to Putin’s aggression, the U.S. government has taken active measures to limit bilateral science and technology research cooperation with the Russian government.

 

Consistent with U.S. domestic and international law, we will wind down institutional, administrative, funding, and personnel relationships and research collaborations in the fields of science and technology with Russian government-affiliated research institutions and individuals who continue to be employed by or work under the direction of those institutions.

 

Such projects and programs that commenced and/or were funded prior to Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 may be concluded, but new projects in affected subject areas will not be initiated. Applicable Departments and Agencies have been advised to curtail interaction with the leadership of Russian government-affiliated universities and research institutions, as well as those who have publicly expressed support for the invasion of Ukraine.

 

U.S. Government-affiliated organizations, such as Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and other similar institutions with grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements doing work with the Russian Federation should contact their supporting agency for further guidance.

 

Non-government institutions should make their own determinations regarding how to proceed with contact and collaboration between the United States and Russian scientific communities, in furtherance of an open exchange of ideas within the international science and technology community.

 

The United States recognizes that many Russians – inside and outside of Russia – are opposed to Putin’s war of choice in Ukraine. While some – including in the scientific community – have bravely stood up in defiance, the Russian government’s measures to restrict freedom of expression have made it far more difficult for Russians to express their opposition to this unjust war without fear of retribution.

 

We will continue to denounce all perpetrators of xenophobia and seek to ensure that Russian scientists who have chosen to leave Russia and/or remain in the United States due to their convictions are supported and not discriminated against or stigmatized. We encourage the broader U.S. and international community to do the same.

 

In coordination with our allies and partners, we will uphold our commitments to ensuring the sustainment of international scientific and technical fora, infrastructure, and venues dedicated to fostering peaceful international collaboration. Nevertheless, until Russia ends its war against Ukraine, the United States government will seek to limit engagement with the Russian government in various international projects and initiatives related to science and technology, except where required by our obligations under international law.

 

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FACT SHEET: United States Takes Further Actions to Counter Sanctions Evasion by Russia

JUNE 02, 2022

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

 

The United States, alongside over 30 partners around the world, has imposed unprecedented sanctions and export controls to hold President Putin to account for his war against Ukraine, restrict Russia’s access to critical technology it needs to fund its war machine, and turn Russia into a global financial pariah.

 

The Russian economy is staggering under the weight of financial and trade sanctions, export controls, and the exodus of approximately 1,000 U.S. and multinational businesses. Analysts are projecting a double-digit decline in Russian GDP in 2022, soaring inflation estimated near 20% in 2022, and Putin’s war is projected to wipe out the last 15 years of economic gains in Russia.

 

The United States and our allies and partners are committed to supporting Ukraine and ensuring the Russian government feels the compounding effects of our economic actions. Today the United States took further action, several of which have also been targeted by partners and allies, to crack down on evasion and tighten our sanctions to enhance enforcement and increase pressure on Putin and his enablers:

 

The Department of the Treasury is targeting prominent Russian government officials and business leaders, luxury property of elites, and luxury asset management and service companies key to Russian attempts to evade sanctions. This includes close Putin associate and money-manager of Putin’s offshore wealth, Sergei Roldugin and his family members; Putin-linked yachts and Kremlin aligned yacht brokerages including Imperial Yachts and its CEO which provide services for Vladimir Putin’s inner circle; government ministers overseeing key sectors integral to the Russian economy; and the President of United Aircraft Corporation, a state-owned company that plays a leading role in supporting the defense industry and supplying the military’s destructive activity in Ukraine.

The Department of State is targeting additional Russian oligarchs and elites close to Putin. This includes God Nisanov, a close associate of Russian officials.; Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry; and Alexey Mordashov, one of Russia’s wealthiest billionaires, in addition to his family members and companies, including one of Russia’s leading domestic steel producers.

The Department of Commerce is further restricting the Russian military’s ability to obtain technologies and other items it needs to sustain its aggression and project power. This includes adding 71 parties located in Russia and Belarus to the Entity List, effectively cutting them off from obtaining U.S.-origin items or foreign-made products derived from certain U.S. technology or software.

Today’s actions across the U.S. government continue to add to expansive economic measures imposed on Russia to hold it accountable for its unprovoked war in Ukraine. So far, the United States has added 1,000 parties to Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List and over 300 parties have been added to Commerce’s Entity List.

 

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Statement by President Joe Biden on Additional Security Assistance to Ukraine

JUNE 01, 2022

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

 

The people of Ukraine continue to inspire the world with their courage and resolve as they fight bravely to defend their country and their democracy against Russian aggression. The United States will stand with our Ukrainian partners and continue to provide Ukraine with weapons and equipment to defend itself.  

 

Today, I am announcing a significant new security assistance package to provide timely and critical aid to the Ukrainian military. Thanks to the additional funding for Ukraine, passed with overwhelmingly bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress, the United States will be able to keep providing Ukraine with more of the weapons that they are using so effectively to repel Russian attacks. This new package will arm them with new capabilities and advanced weaponry, including HIMARS with battlefield munitions, to defend their territory from Russian advances. We will continue to lead the world in providing historic assistance to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom.

 

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A Proclamation: Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States (Ukraine)

MAY 27, 2022

PRESIDENTIAL ACTION

 

1.  On January 11, 2018, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) transmitted to the President a report on the Secretary’s investigation into the effect of imports of steel mill articles (steel articles) on the national security of the United States under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862).  The Secretary found and advised the President of his opinion that steel articles are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States.

 

2.  In Proclamation 9705 of March 8, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), the President concurred in the Secretary’s finding that steel articles, as defined in clause 1 of Proclamation 9705, as amended by clause 8 of Proclamation 9711 of March 22, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States, and decided to adjust the imports of those steel articles by imposing a 25 percent ad valorem tariff on such articles imported from all countries except Canada and Mexico.  The proclamation further stated that any country with which we have a security relationship is welcome to discuss with the United States alternative ways to address the threatened impairment of the national security caused by imports from that country, and noted that, should the United States and any such country arrive at a satisfactory alternative means to address the threat to the national security such that the President determines that imports from that country no longer threaten to impair the national security, the President may remove or modify the restriction on steel articles imports from that country and, if necessary, adjust the tariff as it applies to other countries, as the national security interests of the United States require.

 

3.  The United States and Ukraine have developed a close security relationship.  Ukraine has expressed its willingness to work with the United States to address the global excess capacity for producing steel.  Ukraine’s steel industry has been significantly disrupted by the Russian Federation’s unjustified, unprovoked, unyielding, and unconscionable war against Ukraine.  The significant disruption in Ukraine’s steel production is expected to decrease the total amount of steel produced by Ukraine as well as the amount of steel imported into the United States from Ukraine, which in 2021 accounted for less than 1 percent of all steel imports into the United States.  At the same time, the steel industry has been historically important to Ukraine, and both the United States and Ukraine have an interest in maintaining that industry as an economic lifeline while the country recovers.

 

4.  The United States and Ukraine have recently engaged in broad security discussions.  The current disruption of Ukrainian steel production has been part of those discussions, and the ongoing discussion is anticipated to include alternative measures to prevent imports of steel from Ukraine from threatening the national security of the United States as Ukraine’s steel production recovers from the significant disruption caused by the war.

 

5.  In light of the ongoing security discussions and significant disruption of Ukraine’s ability to produce steel, I conclude that Ukraine’s present situation presents a special case.  I have determined to suspend the tariffs set forth in Proclamation 9705 for the import of steel articles and derivative steel articles from Ukraine for 1 year.  The Secretary shall monitor the situation in the domestic steel industry and developments in Ukraine’s steel industry and inform me of any need to terminate or extend this suspension.

 

6.  In light of my determination to adjust the tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9705 as applied to eligible steel articles and derivative steel articles that are the product of Ukraine, I have considered whether it is necessary and appropriate in light of our national security interests to make any corresponding adjustments to such tariff as it applies to products of other countries.  I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate, at this time, to maintain the current tariff level as it applies to products of other countries.

 

7.  Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, authorizes the President to take action to adjust the imports of an article and its derivatives that are being imported into the United States in such quantities or under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security.

 

8.  Section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), authorizes the President to embody in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) the substance of statutes affecting import treatment, and actions thereunder, including the removal, modification, continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import restriction.

 

Now, Therefore, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, do hereby proclaim as follows:

 

(1)  Clause 2 of Proclamation 9705, as amended, is revised to read as follows:

 

“(2)(a)  In order to establish certain modifications to the duty rate on imports of steel articles, subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS is modified as provided in the Annex to this proclamation and any subsequent proclamations regarding such steel articles.

 

(b)  Except as otherwise provided in this proclamation, or in notices published pursuant to clause 3 of this proclamation, all steel articles imports covered by heading 9903.80.01, in subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS, shall be subject to an additional 25 percent ad valorem rate of duty with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, as follows:  (i) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on March 23, 2018, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and the member countries of the European Union; (ii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 1, 2018, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and South Korea; (iii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on August 13, 2018, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, South Korea, and Turkey; (iv) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on May 20, 2019, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, South Korea, and Turkey; (v) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on May 21, 2019, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea; (vi) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on January 1, 2022, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea, and except the member countries of the European Union through 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time on December 31, 2023, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.80.65 through 9903.81.19, inclusive; (vii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 1, 2022, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea, and except the member countries of the European Union through 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time on December 31, 2023, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.80.65 through 9903.81.19, inclusive, and from Japan, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.81.25 through 9903.81.80, inclusive; and (viii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 1, 2022, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and except from Ukraine through 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time on June 1, 2023, and except the member countries of the European Union through 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time on December 31, 2023, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.80.65 through 9903.81.19, inclusive, and from Japan through 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time on December 31, 2023, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.81.25 through 9903.81.80, inclusive.  Further, except as otherwise provided in notices published pursuant to clause 3 of this proclamation, all steel articles imports from Turkey covered by heading 9903.80.02, in subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS, shall be subject to a 50 percent ad valorem rate of duty with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on August 13, 2018, and prior to 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on May 21, 2019.  All steel articles imports covered by heading 9903.80.61, in subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS, shall be subject to the additional 25 percent ad valorem rate of duty established herein with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on the date specified in a determination by the Secretary granting relief.  These rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported steel articles, shall apply to imports of steel articles from each country as specified in the preceding three sentences.”

 

(2)  The first two sentences of clause 1 of Proclamation 9980 of January 24, 2020 (Adjusting Imports of Derivative Aluminum Articles and Derivative Steel Articles Into the United States), are revised to read as follows:

 

“In order to establish increases in the duty rate on imports of certain derivative articles, subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS is modified as provided in Annex I and Annex II to this proclamation.  Except as otherwise provided in this proclamation, all imports of derivative aluminum articles specified in Annex I to this proclamation shall be subject to an additional 10 percent ad valorem rate of duty, and all imports of derivative steel articles specified in Annex II to this proclamation shall be subject to an additional 25 percent ad valorem rate of duty, with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, as follows:  (i) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on February 8, 2020, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative aluminum articles or steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative aluminum articles described in Annex I to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, the Commonwealth of Australia (Australia), Canada, and the United Mexican States (Mexico) and to imports of derivative steel articles described in Annex II to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea; (ii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on January 1, 2022, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative aluminum articles or steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative aluminum articles described in Annex I to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, and Mexico and to imports of derivative steel articles described in Annex II to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Mexico, and South Korea; (iii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 1, 2022, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative aluminum articles or steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative aluminum articles described in Annex I to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, and Mexico and to imports of derivative steel articles described in Annex II to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Japan, Mexico, and South Korea; and (iv) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 1, 2022, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative aluminum articles or steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative aluminum articles described in Annex I to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, and Mexico, and to imports of derivative steel articles described in Annex II to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Japan, Mexico, and South Korea, and except from Ukraine through 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time on June 1, 2023.”  

 

(3)  Any imports of steel articles from Ukraine that were admitted into a U.S. foreign trade zone under “privileged foreign status” as defined in 19 CFR 146.41, prior to 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 1, 2022, shall be subject upon entry for consumption made on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 1, 2022, to the 25 percent rate of duty imposed by Proclamation 9705, as amended.

 

(4)  Any provision of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that is inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation is superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this

 

twenty-seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-sixth.

 

                                 JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

 

Statement by President Joe Biden on Senate Passage of Ukraine Supplemental

MAY 19, 2022
STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

 

I applaud the Congress for sending a clear bipartisan message to the world that the people of the United States stand together with the brave people of Ukraine as they defend their democracy and freedom. The resources that I requested will allow us to send even more weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, replenish our own stockpile, and support U.S. troops stationed on NATO territory. And, I want to thank Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, and Leader McCarthy for moving this bill quickly to ensure there is no lapse in funding for these important needs. Together with the contributions of our Allies and partners, we will keep security, economic, food, and humanitarian assistance flowing to Ukraine, across the region, and around the world, and further strengthen Ukraine — both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.

 

We have provided a historic amount of security assistance to Ukraine to date, and my Administration will continue to expedite the delivery of additional weapons and equipment for which Congress has provided authority.  And today, I am announcing another package of security assistance that will provide additional artillery, radars, and other equipment to Ukraine, which they are already using so effectively on the battlefield. These weapons and equipment will go directly to the front lines of freedom in Ukraine, and reiterate our strong support for the brave people of Ukraine as they defend their country against Russia’s ongoing aggression.

 

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Statement by Press Secretary Jen Psaki on House Passage of the Ukraine Supplemental

MAY 10, 2022
STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

 

The House took a critical step today in sending a clear, bipartisan message to Ukraine, to Russia, and to the world that the United States stands with the people of Ukraine as they defend their democracy against Russian aggression. We thank House leadership and members of the Appropriations committee for working across the aisle to get this done, and appreciate the strong bipartisan support for the President’s proposal to provide much needed security, economic, humanitarian, and food assistance to Ukraine, across the region, and around the world.

 

Our assistance to date, together with the contributions of our Allies and partners, has been critical in helping Ukrainians win the battle for Kyiv and defend their freedoms. The additional resources included in this bill will allow us to send more weapons, such as artillery, armored vehicles, and ammunition, to Ukraine. And they will help us replenish our stockpile and support U.S. troops on NATO territory.

 

As the President said yesterday, we cannot afford any delay in this vital effort. We look forward to continuing to work with Senate leadership to get this bill to the President’s desk quickly and keep assistance flowing to Ukraine without interruption.

 

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Statement by President Joe Biden on Funding for COVID-⁠19 and Ukraine

MAY 09, 2022

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES
 

Ten days ago, I sent to Congress an urgent proposal to provide needed military, economic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.  The plan was substantial in size, because the need is substantial:  we must stand by Ukraine as it defends itself from Russian aggression.

 

The need is also urgent: I have nearly exhausted the resources given to me by a bipartisan majority in Congress to support Ukraine’s fighters.  This aid has been critical to Ukraine’s success on the battlefield.  We cannot allow our shipments of assistance to stop while we await further Congressional action.  We are approximately ten days from hitting this critical deadline.

 

I am pleased that, in my conversations with Congressional leaders, there appears to be strong support for the proposal I submitted, and Congress is likely to pass it in substantially the form I proposed.  I urge them to do so, and again, I urge them to do so quickly.

 

Previously, I had recommended that Congress take overdue action on much needed funding for COVID treatments, vaccines and tests, as part of the Ukraine Supplemental bill.  However, I have been informed by Congressional leaders in both parties that such an addition would slow down action on the urgently needed Ukrainian aid – a view expressed strongly by several Congressional Republicans.  We cannot afford delay in this vital war effort.  Hence, I am prepared to accept that these two measures move separately, so that the Ukrainian aid bill can get to my desk right away.

 

However let me be clear:  as vital as it is to help Ukraine combat Russian aggression, it is equally vital to help Americans combat COVID.  Without timely COVID funding, more Americans will die needlessly.  We will lose our place in line for America to order new COVID treatments and vaccines for the fall, including next-generation vaccines under development, and be unable to maintain our supply of COVID tests.  In the fall, if we are hit by new variants, it will be too late to get the tools needed for protection – critical treatments that will be available in Europe, but not the United States.  In addition, our effort to help lower-income countries get COVID vaccines into arms will stall.

 

So I call on Congress to pass the Ukrainian Supplemental funding bill immediately, and get it to my desk in the next few days.  And then, I urge Congress to move promptly on the COVID funding bill.  This virus knows no borders; we must continue to save lives here at home and around the world.

 

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Remarks By President Biden at Signing of S. 3522, the
“Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act Of 2022”

MAY 09, 2022

SPEECHES AND REMARKS

Oval Office

 

3:08 P.M. EDT

 

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, welcome, folks.  Today I’m joined by Senator Cardin — Ben Cardin; Elissa Slotkin; and the Congresswoman Victoria Spatz — Spartz, excuse me, who — I was just talking to her about still having family back in Ukraine.  God love you.  

 

I — we’re going to — I’m about to sign a bill that these folks are responsible — and, of course, the Vice President, excuse me.  Excuse me.

 

The — I’m signing a bill that provides another important tool in our efforts to support the government of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in their fight to defend their country and their democracy against Putin’s brutal war.  And it is brutal.  

 

I want to thank members of Congress here for getting this passed and everyone who supported the bill.  And the bill demonstrates that support for Ukraine is pivotal at this moment.

 

Every day, Ukrainians pay with their lives, and they fight along — and the atrocities that the Russians are engaging in are just beyond the pale.  And the cost of the fight is not cheap, but caving to aggression is even more costly.  That’s why we’re staying in this.

 

Yesterday, we celebrated VE Day — Victory in Europe Day — marking the end of a transition of the devastation as a consequence of World War Two and Allied nations’ defeat of the scourge of fascism in Europe.  

 

And today, Europe is honoring another important day on the anniversary.  On May 9th, 1950, just years after the end of World War Two, Europe began to work to strengthen the bonds of unity among the nations, particularly the economic unity and the shared economic prosperity.  

 

The idea ultimately grew into the — what is now a 27-nation European Union — an economic powerhouse and a global force for peace and close partners of all — on all the issues we face.

 

And it really has — I’ve said from the very beginning: It’s — it’s something that is good for everyone.  It brings these countries together in ways that — and they cooperate closely economically.  They also cooperate in other ways.  And you’ve seen it in their support for Ukraine.

 

And with Putin’s war once more bringing wanton destruction into Europe, and to — to reaffirm the enduring commitment to the future grounded in democracy, human rights, and peaceful resolution to disagreements, I’m now going to sign this bill.  

 

And again, I thank my colleagues who are standing behind me.  And — because it really matters.  It matters.

 

(The bill is signed.)

 

There you go.  Done.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

 

3:13 P.M. EDT

----------------------------------------

Background Press Call by a Senior Administration Official on the
U.S. and G7 Actions to Impose Additional Severe Costs for Putin’s
War Against Ukraine

MAY 08, 2022

 

PRESS BRIEFINGS

Via Teleconference

 

7:21 A.M. EDT

 

MODERATOR:  Thank you.  And thanks everyone for joining us.  I know it’s pretty early on a Sunday morning.

 

So we’re going to turn it over to [senior administration official] who is going to be our speaker for your awareness.

 

But this call is on background, and it’s attributable to a “senior administration official.”  The contents of this call are going to be embargoed until 12:00 p.m. today.

 

So with that, I’m going to turn it over to [senior administration official] to give some remarks, and then we’ll take some questions.

 

Over to you, [senior administration official].

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Thanks, [moderator].  Good morning.  Thanks, everybody, as well for joining early.  And Happy Mother’s Day.   

 

Our sanctions design from the start has been predicated on applying economic pressure where we have an asymmetric advantage, where we and our allies produce something Russia needs and can’t easily get from anywhere else.  And in doing so, we strengthen Ukraine’s position on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.  That was the premise for cutting off Russia from the leading financial centers of the world — New York, London, Tokyo, Switzerland, Singapore.  The oxygen of any market-based economy is financial capital, and that’s been deprived for — that’s been taken away from Russia.

 

That’s why we’ve denied critical technology inputs and investment capital Putin needs to replenish his weaponry and diversify growth away from just oil and gas.  That’s why we’ve denied access to critical markets that Putin needs to sell his goods.  No export is more important to Putin than oil; it’s the main artery of his economy.  And the EU is now on the cusp of joining the U.S., Canada, and the UK in cutting off this trade.

 

And the same logic applies to the services ban we are announcing today.  Russia has long relied on services provided by G7 countries to operate a modern economy, especially services provided by the United States and the United Kingdom, which are the dominant service providers in the world.

 

So today we’re banning the provision of accounting services, management consulting, marketing — all services that are used to operate multinational businesses, but also to potentially create workarounds from sanctions or to hide ill-gotten wealth.  That’s why we’re shutting down these services.

 

We’re also announcing today that U.S. advertising dollars, broadcast technology, video cameras, microphones, equipment for sound will no longer be available to the three most watched state-owned or -controlled Russian TV stations that enable Putin’s propaganda machine.

 

Some of you have reported on the lies upon lies that are spread on these mouthpieces of the Kremlin, such as claiming the people of Bucha were not killed until days after Russians left the region, or that the placement of dead Ukrainian bodies was staged, or that the brave Ukrainians defending their country are actually the aggressors.

 

After today, no U.S. company can be in the business of funding or supporting the disinformation machine that masks the truth of Putin’s barbaric invasion behind lies and deceit.

 

We’re also adding to our export controls and sanctions that directly degrade Russia’s war efforts, including controls on industrial engines and bulldozers.  The EU is moving in tandem with additional controls on chemicals, for example, that feed directly into Russia’s military industrial complex.

 

These new controls will further limit Russia’s access to components that it needs to replenish and restock its military capabilities.

 

As a result of our export controls applied to date, Russia’s two major tank plants, the Uralz- — I’m going to mispronounce these — the Uralvagonzavod Corporation and the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant have halted work due to the lack of foreign components.  Russian companies that operate heavy machinery made by Caterpillar or John Deere are reporting halts in their production or significant disruptions.  Boeing has halted major operations in Russia and ended all exports of spare parts to Russian airlines, as has Airbus.

 

The last thing we’re doing today is we’re adding 2,600 visa restrictions in response to ongoing human rights violations and atrocities committed by Russian military officials and Belarusian officials, and we’re sanctioning more bank executives from the largest bank in Russia, Sberbank, as well as the third-largest bank, Gazprombank.  The latter of which we have not previously touched with sanctions.

 

Taken together, today’s actions are a continuation of the systematic and methodical removal of Russia from the global financial and economic system.  And the message is: There will be no safe havens in the Russian economy if Putin’s invasion continues.  

 

Happy to take your questions.

 

MODERATOR:  Thanks.  Thank you.  Could we please queue up the directions to ask the questions?  

 

Q    Great.  Thank you so much for doing this.  Good morning.  And, yes, Happy Mother’s Day.  [Senior administration official], can you just give a little more on this?  You mentioned they were bulldozers — these are export controls.  Can you dive a little bit more into that?

 

And can you update us on what you’re seeing in terms of Russian efforts to evade or circumvent?  Is this continuing to be a problem?  Is clamping down part of the discussion for the G7?

 

And finally, on services, does consulting services count?  A lot of these major Russian companies — oligarchs — have consultants across the U.S.  Is that being halted as well?  Thank you.

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Yeah, thanks, Josh.  So first, on the export controls: I mentioned bulldozers, but also industrial engines.  And these are all — these are all asymmetries.  So we supply components that Russia needs to feed its military industrial complex.  I would add chemicals, auto parts.

 

These are — we started out with foundational technology inputs.  So, you know, we placed a lot of focus on Western microchips and the impact that’s having on precision-guided missiles.

 

And we’re moving — we’re broadening into industrial products that have a similar effect, we think, on Putin’s ability to prosecute his war ambitions.  And that’s why we’ve added these products.

 

And it’s really a powerful combination because while Europe certainly has the bulk of the traded goods relationship with Russia, we do too.  And now that we’ve added services, you can think of these as working in tandem.  Europe has the bulk of the goods relationship with Russia.  The U.S. and the UK have historically provided most of the services from the West to Russia, and we’re cutting both off.  And they should mutually reinforce each other.

 

Your second question was on Russia’s efforts to evade or circumvent sanctions, and I am not hearing of any success Russia is having in supplying these parts from anywhere else.  I mean, we mapped this out pretty carefully beforehand, in terms of our export controls and especially on technologies.  And we picked — we picked goods, we picked services, we picked technologies that we and the Europeans and the G7 and our partners in Asia were the dominant suppliers of.  And we don’t think Russia has many options other than to try to produce these goods or services domestically, which I think would be a very tall task.

 

Lastly, your question on management consulting: Yes, that is within the scope of these of this services ban.  We know that these management consulting firms have tended to provide their services to the largest companies in Russia, often state-owned enterprises under the control of the Kremlin.

 

The same is true of the big four accountants.  They employ over 10,000 people in Russia.  And they’ve — together, the accountants and the management consultants, they’ve been asked, we think, by Russian companies to help them figure out how to reformulate their business strategies in the wake of sanctions — in some cases, how to get around these sanctions or, in the case of accountants, how to hide some of their wealth.  And we’re shutting that — we’re shutting that down.

 

Q    Good morning.  I have two questions.  One is: I don’t see lawyers or legal services on this list, and I want to ask, why?  Because American lawyers historically have been valuable to Russian businesspeople in hiding their money and making investments.  Why aren’t they on the list?

 

Second, could you speak a little bit about the problem of blowback of these and other sanctions on the Western economy?

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Yes, David, you’re right; legal services are not on the list.  And we made a judgment, at least for now, that if there was a desire to seek due process through a U.S. lawyer, we would allow that to continue.  But we’re reevaluating, you know, the breadth of these services, sanctions every day.  And depending on how we see behavior change over time, we can certainly broaden the sanctions.

 

The UK has also not banned legal services at this point either, but we’re closely talking.  We’re talking very actively about whether we ought to broaden.  And so, we’ll just watch what happens in the aftermath of this ban.

 

In terms of the spillovers, David, we’re focused, as you know, on the three main spillovers from Putin’s invasion: energy — energy being the most important to the developed world, but also food insecurity, which is, I think, the dominant concern across much of the developing world.  And we’re doing all we can on both fronts.

 

I’ll start with food.  You know all of the statistics: 30 percent of the world’s wheat exports come from Ukraine and Russia, 20 percent of corn, 80 percent of sunflower oil, and about one sixth of fertilizer.  And that’s having a global impact.

 

What can we do about it?  Well, we’re speaking out as loudly as we can that this is not the time for countries to have export bans on their food exports.  For countries that have spare production capacity and food, they should produce more.  For countries that have stockpiles of food, they should release those stockpiles to the countries most in need.

 

And the international financial institutions, the IMF and the World Bank, they can provide a targeted support to countries that have the most acute food insecurity problems.  And that’s really important to prevent balance of payments issues as this invasion — if this invasion continues.

 

On energy, there’s a lot to say.  We are — you know, we’re taking action together on Putin’s main export source, which is oil — and gas to a lesser extent — because that helps to fund his war machine.  It’s the main source of relevance from the Russian economy to the rest of the world.  We want to downgrade his status as a leading energy supplier.

 

But we want to do that while maintaining global energy supplies at a steady level.  That’s why we’ve released over 200 million barrels from a strategic reserves.  We’re encouraging domestic producers to respond to price signals and get together with Wall Street and see this as a moment for securing America’s energy independence.

 

And, you know, we can certainly surge natural gas supplies to Europe as much as we can.  And we’re also working with partners in Qatar and Australia to add more natural gas supply to Europe, because that’s the key pressure point on the continent.

 

And this is going to be an ongoing effort; it’s not going to be easy.  We have to do all of this, of course, while we’re ceding our transition towards cleaner and more reliable energy sources.  And we’re — you know, the President, you’ve heard him say he wants to double down, triple down, quadruple down on that transition.

 

Q    Thanks very much for doing this.  Two questions.  First, you mentioned that this was the first time you’ve gone after Gazprombank which, as you noted, was the number three bank.  I assume that was because of the overall European sensitivity about going after gas and Gazprom.  But tell us a little bit about what changed your mind there, and what changed the Europeans’ minds?

 

And second: How clear have you been to the Russians about exactly what they would need to do to get sanctions removed?  Because since we’ve — it sounds like we’ve had a couple of different standards set for what the ultimate U.S. objective here is.  And, of course, sanctions wouldn’t come off all at one time.  But I’m just wondering what kind of clarity you have delivered to the Russians about what exactly they need to do to reverse this?

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Thanks, David.  On the first question, just to clarify: We are not sanctioning Gazprombank, in the same way that we did with SpareBank or VTB or any of the other largest banks.  This is not a full block.  We’re not freezing the assets of Gazprombank or prohibiting any transactions with Gazprombank.

 

What we’re signaling is that Gazprombank is not a safe haven, and so we’re sanctioning some of their top business executives — they’re the people who sit at the top of the organization — to create a chilling effect.

 

And you’re right that Gazprombank is the main way in which Russia sells gas to Europe, and so that’s why we’ve been cautious about shutting down its operations while Europe is still importing gas from Russia.  But we don’t want Gazprombank to be seen as a safe haven, and that’s why we’ve taken action against its top — his top — its top people.

 

With respect to rollback, a few things: One, we would never do a deal on sanctions rollback without Ukraine at the head of the table.

 

The second, if we get to the point at which this is being discussed, it really would depend on the overall shape and scope of the diplomatic agreement that’s being negotiated.

 

And, you know, third, any kind of deal like that requires trust, and Putin hasn’t given the world any reason to trust his word.

 

And the last thing I would say is: We know, David, these sanctions work through market-based channels.  Markets are forward looking.  So once you change the direction of sanctions, you know, the market could very well price in the endpoint of that process.  So in the same way that the market has applied a multiplier as these sanctions have been put on, it could very well do the same when they begin to be taken off.  We know that, and that’s an important consideration.

 

Q    Good morning.  Just a couple of follow-up questions on these things.  Number one, can you clarify when all of these sanctions will be put into place?  Does it kickoff today?

 

Number two, can you give any more details about what the President will be discussing with his G7 counterparts?  I presume this will be a good chunk of that discussion.

 

And number three, can you respond broadly to some criticism that these and other sanctions are hurting not only Putin and his government, but also people in Russia who would be — and who are standing up to him and working on resistance to Russia and the Kremlin?

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Sure, Jeff.  So these sanctions we’re announcing go into effect in the U.S. today, or, in some cases, they get published to the Federal Register tomorrow — the export controls, for example — but they’re going to be unveiled today.  And you’ll see a factsheet on this shortly.

 

Other jurisdictions in the G7 are following their own processes.  The Europeans are still finalizing their package, so they can speak to the timeline.

 

In terms of the purpose of the G7 meeting today, it’s really about honoring the incredible sacrifices that our people made, the people of Ukraine made, and even the citizens, of course, of the Soviet Union to defeat fascism.  And to say, together: Putin is dishonoring those sacrifices by spreading his lies, his disinformation about the barbarism that he is committing in Ukraine.  So, it’s really a chance to speak the truth and to demonstrate our continued unity and our commitment to strengthening Ukraine’s hand on the battlefield and at the negotiating table, and to also ratchet up the pain on Putin, which segues to your third question.

 

You know, these sanctions are not an end to themselves; they’re intended to change the strategic calculus of the target.  And Putin, like any autocrat, has a social contract.  And he has taken away the freedom of the people of Russia in exchange for stability, and he’s no longer delivering upon that.  And so, if thousands of body bags are coming home, if debit cards aren’t working, if shelves aren’t stocked the way they used to, all people can buy anymore are knockoff clothes and phones and cars.  And if Russia is eventually in default and the country is bankrupt, the question we’re putting to him: Is that the endgame he was really looking for?

 

Q    Hi, guys, thanks so much for doing this call.  Just a few more questions.  To follow up, I think, on Jeff’s last question: Obviously, we had heard that this call today was deliberately planned to come ahead of Victory Day.  I wonder if you could preview any of the President’s remarks today — either to G7 or if he’s going to speak about it tomorrow — specifically, on the day where a lot of folks feel like it’s going to mark a new chapter in the Russian invasion.

 

And secondly, on sanctions, we know that you’ve added, of course, more people to the list, but I wonder if — and I’m going to butcher her name — if there’s been an update on the U.S.’s thinking about sanctioning Putin’s rumored girlfriend, Alina Kabaeva — we’ve reported that the EU at least has thought about putting her on the list — and if you expect that to come up today?

 

And then on the media portion — obviously, this is something that you guys are kind of moving into this area — I wonder, in terms of when you’re talking about blocking U.S. advertising dollars, how much of an impact do you guys think that that practically will have?  And has there been an effort on the U.S.’s part to kind of counter the messaging that these different propaganda machines have had actually in Russia to the Russian people?

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Sure.  So I’ll say — I’ll try to say a bit more about the G7 meeting.  You know, I think what you’ll hear from the leaders today is that we have — we can take stock of where we are.  And we all, I think, have the same perspective on where Putin has — where Putin has failed in this effort.

 

You know, in terms of his objectives, he set out, first and foremost, to divide the West, but we’re stronger and more united than at any point in the post-Cold War era.

 

And he aimed to undermine or topple Ukraine’s leadership, but the democratically elected government of Ukraine still stands.

 

And he seemed to expect a quick victory in Kyiv, but it’s still standing.  And he’s now retreated and focused elsewhere.

 

So this is already a failure for Putin.  And, you know, we’re going to continue to honor the brave fighting that’s taking place by Ukraine’s people, and listen to President Zelenskyy, and just recommit to staying the course, to staying unified.  And to ratcheting up the costs on Putin to strengthen Ukraine’s hands on the battlefield and, again, at the negotiating table.

 

In terms of Putin’s girlfriend, I don’t have anything for you there.  I know the EU is looking at this; we’re looking at this.  But I don’t have an announcement for you to make on that front today.

 

And then lastly, on the media — the media actions, the TV stations — just to give you a bit more: We are sanctioning the three main television stations in Russia: Channel One, Russia, One, NTV.  These are all stations owned by the state or controlled by the state or owned by one of Putin’s closest allies.  They’re also among the most widely watched in Russia.  It’s how most people in Russia get their news from the television.

 

And, you know, the reality is: Western companies were among the top advertisers on these stations last year — well above $300 million worth of advertising.  A lot of these advertisers have announced since the invasion that they’re going to cut their business activity with these stations, but we want to make sure that decision endures and just send a broader signal that U.S. companies should not be in the business of funding Russian propaganda.

 

The other element of this sanction is that Russian TV stations, in many cases, rely on Western technology to broadcast the propaganda.  And that’s what I was referring to when I mentioned the video cameras, the microphones, the controls for digital sound, lighting equipment, software servers.  Russia can try to produce these components domestically.  But the idea here is to make that commercially difficult, unprofitable, put more of the burden on the Russian state.  And we’re not going to be in the business of helping them broadcast some of the lies and the deceit that you hear from Putin every day.

 

MODERATOR:  Great.  Thanks, [senior administration official].  And thanks, everyone, for joining.

 

As a reminder, this call was on background, attributable to a “senior administration official.”  The contents of this call are embargoed until 12:00 p.m. Eastern today.

 

You guys should have also gotten the factsheet — embargoed until 12:00 p.m.  If you didn’t, please feel free to reach out to me and we’ll make sure you get that.

 

So, thanks again, everyone, for joining.

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Thanks, everybody.

 

7:44 A.M. EDT

-----------------------------------

FACT SHEET
United States and G7 Partners Impose Severe Costs for Putin’s War Against Ukraine

MAY 08, 2022

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES
 

President Biden and G7 Leaders Meet with President Zelenskyy to Continue our Efforts to Support Ukraine and Build on our Unprecedented Sanctions and Export Controls

 

Today, President Biden and G7 Leaders met with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine to reinforce our shared commitment to strengthen Ukraine’s position on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.

 

Our unprecedented sanctions are already exacting an immense toll on Russia’s economy and our export controls have strangled Russia’s access to critical technology and the supply chains it needs to sustain its military ambitions. Putin’s war is projected to wipe out the last 15 years of economic gains in Russia. As a result of our export controls, Russia is struggling to replenish its military weapons and equipment. Russia’s two major tank plants – Uralvagonzavod Corporation and Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant – have halted work due to lack of foreign components. Almost 1,000 private sector companies have left Russia, and reports indicate that more than 200,000 Russians, many of whom are highly skilled, have fled the country. All of these costs will compound and intensify over time.

 

Putin has failed in his initial military objective to dominate Ukraine – but he has succeeded in making Russia a global pariah. Today, the United States, the European Union and G7 committed to ratchet up these costs by collectively taking further measures, consistent with each partner’s respective legal authorities and processes.

 

Targeting State-Controlled Media Within Russia That Bolster Putin’s War. The United States will sanction three of Russia’s most highly-viewed directly or indirectly state-controlled television stations in Russia – Joint Stock Company Channel One Russia, Television Station Russia-1, and Joint Stock Company NTV Broadcasting Company. All three stations have been among the largest recipients of foreign revenue, which feeds back to the Russian State’s revenue.

 

Banning Services that Help Finance Putin’s War and Aid Sanctions Evasion. The United States will prohibit U.S. persons from providing accounting, trust and corporate formation, and management consulting services to any person in the Russian Federation. These services are key to Russian companies and elites building wealth, thereby generating revenue for Putin’s war machine, and to trying to hide that wealth and evade sanctions. This action builds on previous prohibitions to restrict the export of goods related to aerospace, marine, electronics, technology, and defense and related materiel sectors of the Russian economy.

 

Cutting off Imports of Russian Oil and Reducing Dependence on Russian Energy. The United States has already banned the import of Russian oil, gas, and coal. Today, the entire G7 committed to phasing out or banning the import of Russian oil. This will hit hard at the main artery of Putin’s economy and deny him the revenue he needs to fund his war. The G7 also committed to work together to ensure stable global energy supplies, while accelerating our efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

 

Impose further export controls and sanctions to degrade Russia’s war efforts.  The United States will issue a new rule that imposes additional restrictions on Russia’s industrial sector, including a broad range of inputs and products including wood products, industrial engines, boilers, motors, fans, and ventilation equipment, bulldozers, and many other items with industrial and commercial applications. These new controls will further limit Russia’s access to items and revenue that could support its military capabilities. The United States also sanctioned Limited Liability Company Promtekhnologiya, which produces rifles and other weapons that have been used in military operations in Ukraine; seven shipping companies, which own or operate 69 vessels; and one marine towing company. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will also suspend general licenses for exports of source material, special nuclear material, byproduct material, and deuterium to Russia.

 

Impose Sanctions on Russian Elites and their Family Members and Visa Restrictions on Russian and Belarusian Officials Undermining the Sovereignty, Territorial Integrity, or Political Independence of Ukraine. The United States imposed approximately 2,600 visa restrictions on Russian and Belarusian officials in response to their ongoing efforts to undermine the sovereignty, territorial integrity, or political independence of Ukraine. Additionally, the United States issued a new visa restriction policy that applies to Russian Federation military officials and Russia-backed or Russia-installed purported authorities who are believed to have been involved in human rights abuses, violations of international humanitarian law, or public corruption in Ukraine. The United States also sanctioned eight executives from Sberbank– the largest financial institution in Russia and uniquely important to the Russian economy, holding about a third of all bank assets in Russia; twenty-seven executives from Gazprombank – a prominent Russian bank facilitating business by Russia’s Gazprom, one of the largest natural gas exporters in the world; and Moscow Industrial Bank and its ten subsidiaries.

 

###

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Statement by President Joe Biden on Additional Security Assistance to Ukraine

MAY 06, 2022
 

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

 

Today, the United States is continuing our strong support for the brave people of Ukraine as they defend their country against Russia’s ongoing aggression. I am announcing another package of security assistance that will provide additional artillery munitions, radars, and other equipment to Ukraine.

 

The United States has provided a historic amount of security assistance to Ukraine at rapid speed. We are sending the weapons and equipment that Congress has authorized directly to the front lines of freedom in Ukraine. U.S. support, together with the contributions of our Allies and partners, has been critical in helping Ukraine win the battle of Kyiv and hinder Putin’s war aims in Ukraine.

 

With today’s announcement, my Administration has nearly exhausted funding that can be used to send security assistance through drawdown authorities for Ukraine. For Ukraine to succeed in this next phase of war its international partners, including the U.S., must continue to demonstrate our unity and our resolve to keep the weapons and ammunition flowing to Ukraine, without interruption. Congress should quickly provide the requested funding to strengthen Ukraine on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.

----------------------------------------

 



Remarks by President Biden on the Security Assistance to Ukraine

MAY 03, 2022

 

SPEECHES AND REMARKS

Lockheed Martin Pike County Operations

Troy, Alabama

 

2:03 P.M. CDT

 

THE PRESIDENT:  I tell you what, Linda: If I were CEO of this company, I’d be worried.  (Laughter.)

 

Well, good afternoon, everybody.  And thank you, Jim, for the invitation to be here today and, Linda, for the warm welcome today.  And Congressman Sewell — -woman Sewell, thank you for all you do for the people of this state and the country and for your friendship — our friendship.

 

I wanted to come down to Alabama to make sure that the American people know what workers at this —

 

And, by the way, if you have a seat, please take it.  (Laughter.)  By the way, sometimes — the press is always fair with me, but once — every once in a while, I make a mistake — not like — well, once a speech.

 

But, at any rate, I — years ago, when I first started talking to this — for this job, I said, “Please take your seats.”  There weren’t any seats.  Everyone was standing.  There were no chairs.  (Laughter.)  So, I just wanted to make sure I checked whether you had seats.

 

Look, the American people know what workers at this facility are doing and support — to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom.

 

And the bottom line is I came to say thank you, thank you, thank you.  That’s the reason I’m here.

 

I’ve been on those battlefields where these missiles are fired, and I spent a lot of time going in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan — maybe a total of 40 times.  And I tell you what: You’re — and I’ve been in Ukraine a lot prior to the war and on the border since the war.  And it’s — it’s amazing what you’ve done.

 

We see on the news every single day the atrocities and the war crimes that are being committed by Russian forces in Ukraine, directed by Vladimir Putin.  And it really is gut-wrenching.

 

We see the incredible bravery of the Ukrainian fighters defending their country from ev- — with everything they have.  And, by the way, it’s not just their warriors.  It’s not just their military.  It’s people in the street — people in the street, staying behind.  A lot have gotten out — 5 million — but a lot are staying, including women as well as men, staying to fight for their country.

 

And — and we know that the United States is leading our Allies and partners around the world to make sure that courageous Ukrainians who are fighting for the future of their nation have the weapons and the capacity and ammunition and equipment to defend themselves against Putin’s brutal war.  A lot of war crimes being committed.

 

But what we don’t — what we don’t see — we don’t always see — is the work that so much of — that makes so much of this possible.  And that’s you.  It’s not hyperbole.  It’s you.  You make it possible.  You make it possible for them to have a shot.

 

You know, during World War Two, the United States was known as the arsenal of democracy.  There was Rosie the Riveter — who I actually got to meet, quite frankly, before she passed away — and a lot of people who, in fact, kept the — kept it going.

 

I was — a slight digression — I went over for the 50th anniversary of the — the end of World War Two.  And I was in Normandy, and I went up afterwards with the — to the cemetery.  And I was walking by myself.  And it’s — it’s incredible.  It’s immaculate.  It’s perfectly manicured, and the headstones are all the same.

 

I looked down one row, and I saw three names — same names.  A father and two sons who had died in the landing.  And I was bent down, and I was reading the dates of their birth.  And all of a sudden, I heard behind me, “Attention!”  And I turned around and there was a gentleman who had to be in his early 80s, in a wheelchair, being wheeled by his son who — big guy — looked like Hoss Cartwright — and his — and his wife and one of their — and a daughter.

 

And he saluted me, so I saluted him, and — at the time.  And I turned around, and I said, “Thank you for what you did.  Thank you for saving — literally saving civilization.”

 

And he put his hand on his wife’s — his wife — his hand was on her shoulder.  And he said, “No, no.  She did it.  She did it.”

 

And I looked at her, and he said, “She built the landing craft that got us in here.  She and her friends — they’re the ones that did it.”  And he went on.  And he filled up.

 

And all of a sudden, it dawned on me: You’re doing it.  You really are doing it.  You’re making a gigantic difference for these poor sons of guns who are under such enormous, enormous pressure and firepower.

 

Those Javelins I saw — there’s 10 for every tank that there is in Ukraine right now.  You’re changing people’s lives.  (Applause.)  We built the weapons — no, you really do.  But we built the weapons and the equipment that helped defend freedom and sovereignty in Europe years ago.  But that’s true again today.

 

You know, some of the best, most effective weapons in our arsenal are those Javelin missiles, like the ones manufactured right here in Pike County.

 

They’re highly portable.  They’re extremely effective against a wide range of armored targets.  They can hit targets up to 400 [4,000] meters away and have a “fire-and-forget” capability.  That means the person firing can — and I know you know it, but for anybody who may be listening — can change positions or take cover before that Javelin even strikes home and strikes the target.

 

In fact, they’ve been so important there’s even a story about Ukrainian parents naming their children — not a joke — their newborn child “Javelin” or “Javelina.”  Not a joke.

 

So, the brave people of Ukraine, including the many civilians who have taken up arms to defend their country, deserve every ounce of credit for pushing back the Russian assault and frustrating Putin’s desire to dominate Ukraine.

 

We’re at an inflection point in history, for real — it comes along about every six or eight generations — where things are changing so rapidly that we have to be in control.

 

Folks, there’s an ongoing battle in the world between autocracy and democracy.  Xi Jinping, the leader of China, who I’ve talked — I’ve spent more time with than any other world leader has — over 78 hours on the — either in person or on the telephone with him.  And the fact of the matter is he just is straightforward about it.  He says that democracies cannot be sustained in the 21st century.  Not a joke.  They cannot be sustained — because things are moving so rapidly, democracies require consensus, and it’s hard to get consensus, therefore they can’t keep up with an autocracy — one-man rule.

 

But that’s not going to be the case.  If that happens, the whole world changes.

 

And because of you — in this first, really, battle, if you will — for that to determine whether that’s going to happen is because you’re making it possible.  You’re making it possible for the Ukrainian people to defend themselves without us having to risk getting in a third world war by sending in American soldiers fighting Russian soldiers.

 

My dad used to have an expression.  He’d say, “The only war worse than one that’s intended is one that’s unintended.”

 

You’re allowing the Ukrainians to defend themselves.  And, quite frankly, they’re making fools of the Russian military in many instances.

 

A big part of the reason they’ve been able to keep on fighting and to make this war a strategic failure for Russia is because the United States, together with our Allies and partners, have had their back.

 

The United States alone has committed more than 5,500 Javelins to Ukraine.  You’re changing the nation.  You really are.  Add to that significant supplies from our Allies and partners, as well as many thousands of other anti-tank and anti-air weapons, helicopters, armored vehicles, artillery, coastal defense systems.

 

Before Russia attacked, we made sure Russia [Ukraine] had Javelins and other weapons to strengthen their defenses so Ukraine was ready for whatever happened.

 

And in the last two months, we continued to move even more resources and equipment at a rapid pace into Ukraine.  We’ve made sure that there are no interruptions in the flow of equipment to Ukraine.

 

Since Russia invaded Ukraine just over two months ago, we have sent more than $3 billion in security assistance to Ukraine — alone, us — not counting our Allies.  And that money is a direct investment in defending freedom and democracy itself.

 

Because if you don’t stand up to dictators, history has shown us they keep coming.  They keep coming.  Their appetite for power continues to grow.

 

And every worker in this facility and every American taxpayer is directly contributing to the case for freedom.  And that’s something we can all be incredibly proud of, in my view.

 

Last week, I sent Congress — if you excuse a point of personal privilege, talking like an old senator — but I sent a supplemental budget — a fancy way of saying we need more money — to make sure the United States can continue to send weapons directly to the frontlines of freedom in Ukraine and to continue to provide economic and humanitarian assistance to help the Ukrainian people.

 

And I urge the Congress to pass this funding quickly to help Ukraine continue to succeed against Russian aggression, just as they did when they won the Battle of Kyiv, and to make sure the United States and our Allies can replenish our own stocks of weapons to replace what we’ve sent to Ukraine.

 

As I said from the beginning, this fight is not going to be cheap, but caving to aggression would even be more costly.

 

We either back the Ukrainian people as they defend their country or stand by as Russia continues its atrocities and aggression.

 

I know what my answer is, and I think you all do too.  I bet I know what the answer of this plant is.

 

There’s something else here that — to be understand.  Being the arsenal of democracy also means good-paying jobs for American workers in Alabama and the states all across America where defense equipment is manufactured and assembled.

 

Two hundred and sixty-five people here at this plant are directly employed working on the Javelin program.  All told, Lockheed Martin has brought nearly 3,000 jobs to Alabama.

 

The Armed Forces of the United States of America is going to continue to be the best-armed, most capable fighting force in the history of the world.

 

In order to do that, we have to make sure our vital defense supplies [suppliers] are getting the inputs and supplies they need to produce and protect and provide the full capacity.

 

I learned on the tour today that each of the Javelins you produce includes more than 200 semiconductors.  I’ve been a broken record, as the press will tell you, on our need to be able to produce more semiconductors in the United States.

 

We invented the sucker, going to the moon — we, the United States.  We’re the one that modernized it.  We’ve done more than anybody else.  But guess what?  We stopped investing in ourselves.  We stopped investing in ourselves.

 

And so, now we’re back in the game, making sure that we become — we become the primary producer of those semiconductors — computer chips that power much of our modern lives.

 

They’re in our phones, our cars, almost anything that has an on/off switch.  And the semiconductor is critical to defense production capacity, as you — you all know better than I do.

 

That’s why we are making it as hard as we can for Russia to get a hold of semiconductors and advanced technologies that it could use to upgrade its military during this conflict, and why we’re taking steps to make it easier to source what we need here in the United States during a global semiconductor shortage.

 

And just one more — there is just one more reason why Congress has to act quickly to provide the emergency funding for the so-called CHIPS Act by passing the broader Bipartisan Innovation Act so we can produce tens of millions of these chips.

 

There is something we have to focus on and something I’ve focused on from my earliest days of our administration: I’m determined to make sure the United States holds the technological high ground in competition with other nations, especially China, as we move forward.

 

Folks, you know, we — we used to invest, as a nation, years ago — 35 years ago, we invested 2 percent of our entire GDP in research and development.  We do half of that now.  We do half of that.  We used to be number one in the world.  Now we’re number 13 in the world.  My administration — we’re changing that.

 

The United States used to own the innovation field.  In fact, it was a Department of [Defense] research program that established DARPA.  It was the first development of an anti-tank missile with advanced infrared guidance systems that culminated in today’s Javelin.

 

The Bipartisan Innovation Act is going to help reverse decades-long decline in federal research and development investment.  And it should create [jobs] and support entire families, and expand U.S. manufacturing and strengthen our national security.

 

Where in God’s name is it written that the United States can no longer be a leading manufacturer in the world?  We’ve created, just in the last 17 months, 465,000 permanent manufacturing jobs in America.  We have the best workers, the most competent employees, the best science in the world.

 

And by funding the CHIPS Act, we’re going to ensure the semiconductors that power the economy and our national security are made here in America again.

 

Today, all — all the world’s most advanced chips are made overseas.  But the events of the past few years have proven beyond a doubt that America’s security should never be held hostage to events overseas — not a pandemic, not a war, not the politics of — ambition, or other countries.

 

Fundamentally, there’s a national — this is a national security issue.  This is one of the reasons why the Chinese Communist Party is lobbying folks to oppose this bill.  And it’s an issue that unites Democrats and Republicans.

 

So, let’s get it done.  Let’s get it done.

 

In her introduction, Linda said she personally touched every single solitary Javelin — 50,000 — that had been manufactured in this plant 20 years ago.

 

I was worried to shake your hand.  I thought you may — I might be electrocuted.  (Laughter.)  But that’s where they start: right here with American skill, American craftsmanship, American patriotism.

 

And just a few days ago, the Wall Street Journal quoted a young Hungarian [Ukrainian] fighter saying, and I quote, “Without the Javelins, it would have been very hard to stop the enemy pushing ahead.”  End of quote.

 

So these weapons, touched by the hands — your hands — are in the hands of Ukrainian heroes, making a significant difference.  And that’s something each and every day you could and should be proud of.

 

And I’m once more urging Congress to quickly pass the supplemental funding bill for over $300 [$30] billion to help the Ukrainians so they can keep — they can keep all of the very, very — all of you very, very busy for a while here.

 

So, again, let me end where I began.  I came for a basic reason, from the bottom of my heart: to say thank you.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for what you do.  Thank you for what you continue to do.  Unless you go out in the field and see it, you don’t realize what a difference you’re making.

 

May God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops. Thank you so much.  (Applause.)

 

2:20 P.M. CDT

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Remarks by President Biden on the Request to Congress for Additional Funding to Support Ukraine

APRIL 28, 2022

 

SPEECHES AND REMARKS

Roosevelt Room

 

11:13 A.M. EDT

 

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody.  Good morning.  I just signed a request to Congress for critical security, economic, and humanitarian assistance to help Ukraine continue to counter Putin’s aggression and — at a very pivotal moment.

 

We need this bill to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom.  And our NATO Allies, our EU partners — they’re going to pay their fair share of the costs as well, but we have to do this.  We have to do our part as well, leading the Alliance.

 

     The cost of this fight is not cheap, but caving to aggression is going to be more costly if we allow it to happen.

 

We either back the Ukrainian people as they defend their country or we stand by as the Russians continue their atrocities and aggression in Ukraine.

 

Every day — every day, the Ukrainians pay for the — a price with — and the price they pay is with their lives for this fight.

 

So, we need to contribute arms, funding, ammunition, and the economic support to make their courage and sacrifice have purpose so they can continue this fight and do what they’re doing.

 

It’s critical this funding gets approved and approved as quickly as possible.

 

You know, long before Russia lost i- — launched its brutal invasion, I — I made clear how the United States would respond.  I predicted they would invade, and they surely did.

 

     We said we’d not send U.S. troops to fight Russian troops in Ukraine, but we would provide robust military assistance and try to unify the Western world against Russia’s aggression.

 

     I said I would impose powerful sanctions on Russia and that we’d destroy and develop — we’d destroy this myth that somehow they could continue to move without the rest of the world acting; that we’d deploy additional forces to defend NATO territory, particularly in the east, along the Russian and Belarus borders.

 

That’s exactly — that’s exactly what we said we would do, and we did.

 

But despite the disturbing rhetoric coming out of the Kremlin, the facts are plain for everybody to see.  We’re not attacking Russia; we’re helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression.

 

And just as Putin chose to launch this brutal invasion, he could make the choice to end this brutal invasion.

 

Russia is the aggressor.  No if, ands, or buts about it.  Russia is the aggressor.  And the world must and will hold Russia accountable.

 

Russia’s continued assault on — is yielding immense human costs.

 

We’ve seen — we’ve seen them leave behind horrifying evidence of their atrocities and war crimes in the areas they tried to control.

 

And as long as the assaults and atrocities continue, we’re going to continue to supply military assistance.

 

 

     And I might note, parenthetically: You know, there’s a dinner this weekend to celebrate the press.  Think of what the American press has done — the courage it has taken to stay in these warzones, the courage it has taken to report every single day.

 

     I’ve always had respect for the press, but I can’t tell you how much respect I have watching — watching them in these zones where they’re under fire, risking their own lives to make sure the world hears the truth.

 

     Imagine if we weren’t getting that information.  It’d be a different world.  It’d be a different circumstance.

 

 

In the past two months, Russia launched its brutal attack and has moved weapons and equipment to Ukraine at — we’ve moved — we’ve moved weapons and equipment to Ukraine at record speed.

 

Thanks to the aid we’ve provided, Russian forces have been forced to retreat from Kyiv.  It doesn’t mean they’re not going to try to come back, but they’ve retreated thus far.

 

We’ve sent thousands of anti-armor, anti-[air] missiles, helicopters, drones, grenade launchers, machine guns, rifles, radar systems, more than 50 million rounds of ammunition.  The United States alone has provided 10 anti-armor systems for every Russian tank that is in Ukraine — 10 to 1.

 

We’re providing Ukraine significant, timely intelligence to help them defend themselves against the Russian onslaught.

 

And we’re facilitating a significant flow of weapons and systems to Ukraine from our Allies and partners around the world, including tanks, artillery, and other weapons.

 

That support is moving with unprecedented speed.

 

Much — much of the new equipment we’ve announced in the past two mon- — two weeks has already gotten to Ukraine, where it can be put to direct use on the battlefield.

 

However, we have almost exhausted what we call — the fancy phrase — the “drawdown authority” that Congress authorized Ukraine — authorized for Ukraine in a bipartisan spending bill last month.  Basically, we’re out of money.

 

And so, that’s why today, in order to sustain Ukraine as it — as it continues to fight, I’m sending Congress a supplemental budget request.

 

It’s going to keep weapons and ammunition flowing without interruption to the brave Ukrainian fighters and continue delivering economic and humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people.

 

This so-called supplemental funding addresses the needs of the Ukrainian military during the crucial weeks and months ahead.  And it begins — it begins to transition to longer-term security assistance that’s going to help Ukraine deter and continue to defend against Russian aggression.

 

This assistance would provide even more artillery, armored vehicles, anti-armor systems, anti-air capabilities that have been used so effectively thus far on the battlefield by the Ukrainian warriors.

 

You know, and it’s going to deliver much-needed humanitarian assistance as well as food, water, medicines, shelter, and other aid to Ukrainians displaced by Russia’s war, and provide aid to those seeking refuge in other countries from Ukraine.

 

It’s also going to help schools and hospitals open.  It’s going to allow pensions and social support to be paid to the Ukrainian people so they have something — something in their pocket.  It’s also going to provide critical resources to address food shortages around the globe.

 

Ukraine — Ukraine was one of the world’s largest agriculture producers.  It typically grows 10 percent of all the wheat that’s shipped around the world.

 

Putin has asserted sanctions are blocking food from Ukraine and Russia getting on the market — the sanctions we’ve imposed on Russia.  Simply not true.

 

Putin’s war, not sanctions, are impacting the harvest of food and disrupting the movement of that food by land and sea to nations around the globe that need it.

 

This funding is going to help ease rising food prices at home as well, and abroad, caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

 

It’s going to help support American farmers produce more crops like wheat and oilseed, which is good for rural America, good for the American consumer, and good for the world.

 

And this supplemental request will use the Defense Production Act to expand domestic production and reserve — and the reserve of critical materials — materials like nickel and lithium that have been disrupted by Putin’s war in Ukraine and that are necessary to make everything from defense systems to automobiles.

 

And I hope Congress — I hope Congress will move on this funding quickly.  I believe they will.

 

I want to thank Congress — Democrats and Republicans — for their support of the people of Ukraine.

 

And next week, I will be in Alabama to visit a Lockheed Martin plant that manufactures the Javelin anti-tank missile we’ve been sending to Ukraine, and to thank the American workers — thank them — for producing the weapons that helped stop Russia’s advances in Ukrainian cities like Kyiv.

 

Their hard work has played a critical role in ensuring Putin’s strategic failure in Ukraine, and they should know that we know it.

 

In addition to this supplemental funding, I’m also sending to Congress a comprehensive package of — that will enhance our underlying effort to accommodate [hold accountable] the Russian oligarchs and make sure we take their — take their ill-begotten gains.  Ha, we’re going to “accommodate” them.   We’re going to seize their yachts, their luxury homes, and other ill-begotten gains of Putin’s kleptoc- — yeah — kleptocracy and klep- — the guys who are the kleptocracies.  (Laughs.)  But these are bad guys.   

 

This legislative package strengthens our law enforcement capabilities to seize property linked to Russia’s kleptocracy.

 

It’s going to create new, expedited procedures for forfeiture and seizure of these — of these properties.  And it’s going to ensure that when the oligarchs’ assets are sold off, funds can be used directly to remedy the harm Russia caused in their help — and help build Ukraine.

 

Additionally, yesterday, Ru- — Russia threatened two of our Allies with a cut-off of energy supplies.

 

While America has ended all Russian fossil fuel imports because we are able to use our vast support — supply of power in our country, some European countries have faced more challenges in reducing their reliance on Russian fuel.

 

Russia has long claimed to be, quote, “the reliable source of energy” for the world.  No matter what the differences are, their customers are always going to be — be in good shape.

 

But these actions prove that energy is not just a commodity that Russia sells to help meet other countries’ needs, but a weapon it will use to deploy against those who stand against their aggression.

 

So, let me be clear: We will not let Russia intimidate or blackmail their way out of these sanctions.  We will not allow them to use their oil and gas to avoid consequences for their aggression.

 

We’re working with other nations — like Korea, Japan, Qatar, and others — to support our effort to help the European allies threatened by Russia with gas blackmail and their energy needs in other ways.

 

Aggression will not win.  Threats will not win.

 

This is just another reminder of the imperative for Europe and the world to move more and more of our power needs to clean energy.

 

In the United States, we’re doing that right now.  Last year, we developed [deployed] more solar, wind, and battery storage than any year in our history — enough to power 56 million American homes.

 

Earlier this month, we acted to bolster the — our reli- –the reliance on our nuclear energy facilities, which generates more than half of our carbon-free power.  And we’re just getting started.  I look at this as a serious problem, but also an enormous opportunity — an opportunity.

 

Bottom line: All these actions we’ve been taking are about the truth — this truth: Investing in Ukraine’s freedom and security is a small price to pay to punish Russian aggression, to lessen the risk of future conflicts.

 

You know, throughout our history, we’ve learned that when dictators do not pay the price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and engage in more aggression.  They keep moving.  And the costs, the threats to America and the world keep rising.

 

We can’t let this happen.

 

Our unity at home, our unity with our Allies and partners, and our unity with the Ukrainian people is sending an unmistakable message to Putin: You will never succeed in dominating Ukraine.

 

Finally, we’re going to continue to deliver critical support to Ukraine.  We must also not let our guard down in our fight against COVID-19 at home and abroad.  That’s why I’m, again, urging Congress to act on my request for $22.5 billion in emergency resources so the American people can continue to protect themselves from COVID-19.

 

The reason we were so successful in the past is because I was able to work with drug manufacturers to order significant quantities of material we needed ahead of time to get in the front of the line.  Without additional funding, we can’t preorder the amount of vaccines we need, and we risk losing our spot in line for vaccines that target multiple variants.

 

We’re running out of supply for therapeutics like antiviral pills that we desperately need.

 

Without additional funding, we’re unable to purchase the lifesaving treatment for the American people.  We’ve donated more vaccines and treatments to the world than all other nations in the world combined.  If the U.S. won’t do it, no one else is really going to step up and do it.

 

Without additional funding, the United States won’t be able to help stop the spread around the world and close off ongoing suppor- — sources of the supply chain disruptions.

 

Look, let’s get both of these critical tasks done.  No delays, no excuses, just action now.  Now.

 

Thank you all.  Thank you.

 

Q    Mr. President, what’s your message to refugees on —

 

Q    Mr. President, how worried are you — how worried are you by — go ahead.  No, you go.

 

Q    Okay.

 

THE PRESIDENT:  Watch your head, man.  You’re going to get hurt.  He’s turning that camera.

 

Q    I’m in a tight spot here, Mr. President.

 

Q    He’s a gentleman.  Mr. President, I wanted to ask what your message is to Ukrainian refugees on the southwest border and those that are trying to flee Ukraine from the violence.

 

THE PRESIDENT:  We have made a direct means by which they can get from Europe, from Ukraine, directly to the United States, without going through the southern border.  In the meantime, in the southern border, we’re trying to work through and make sure they — it’s an orderly process, they’re able to get in.

 

But just so you know, we have said there’s no need to go to the southern border; fly directly to the United States.  We set up a mechanism whereby they can come directly with a visa.

 

Q    Mr. President, thank you.  How worried are you by a growing number of Russian comments in the media and amongst some of their officials painting this conflict as actually already a conflict between NATO, the U.S., and Russia?  And they’re painting in very alarmist terms, talking of nuclear weapons, saying it’s a life-or-death struggle, et cetera.

 

And just separately — well, connected to that: Lavrov himself self says it’s already a proxy war — not a direct war but a proxy war.  So are either of those two things true?  And do they worry you, those things?

 

THE PRESIDENT:  They’re not true.  They do concern me because it shows the desperation that Russia is feeling about their abject failure in being able to do what they set out to do in the first instance.

 

And so, it — I think it’s more of a reflection not of the truth but of their failure.  And so, instead of saying that the — the Ukrainians, equipped with some capability to resist Russian forces, are doing this, they’ve got to say — tell their people the United States and all of NATO is engaged in — in taking out Russian troops and tanks, et cetera.

 

So, it’s — number one, it’s an excuse for their failure.  But number two, it’s also, if they really mean it, it’s — it’s — no — no one should be making idle comments about the use of nuclear weapons or the possibility that they’d use that.  It’s irresponsible.

 

     Q    Mr. President, back on the border, Title 42.  A number of your Democratic friends are pressuring the White House

 

to maintain that policy.  Can you give us a straight answer on whether you’re going to — whether you’re going to heed that request or you’re going to get rid of it?

 

THE PRESIDENT:  I can give you a straight answer.  We had proposed to eliminate that policy by the end of May.  The Court has said we can’t so far.  And what the Court says, we’re going to do.  The Court could come along and say we cannot do that, and that’s it.

 

Q    Mr. President, you say that this is not a proxy war, but Russia clearly disagrees.  They say that war means war.  So how concerned are you that they may start to act accordingly, even if you disagree?

 

THE PRESIDENT:  We are prepared for whatever they do.

 

Q    What options do you have to ensure Poland and Bulgaria have sufficient supplies of gas?

 

THE PRESIDENT:  First of all, as you know, Poland has indicated they have significant reserves of gas that they have planned for, as does — not as much, but as does Bulgaria.  And we have worked with our allies, from Japan on, to say that we may divert our sale of the natural gas that we’re sending to those countries and divert it directly to Poland and Bulgaria.

 

So, I — you know, that’s the most I can tell you right now.

 

Q    Sir, how concerned are you about a recession, given the GDP report today showed a contraction of 1.4 percent in the first quarter?

 

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I’m not concerned about a recession.  I mean, you’re always concerned about a recession, but the GDP, you know, fell to 1.4 percent.

 

But here’s the deal: We’re also had — last quarter, consumer spending and business investment and residential investment increased at significant rates, both for leisure as well as hard products, number one.

 

Number two, the — we are — unemployment is the lowest rate since 1970.  A record 4.5 million businesses were created last year.  We’re in a situation where the — you know, we have a very different view than Senator Scott and Republicans that want to raise taxes on the middle-class families and want to include half of small-business owners in that.

 

So, I think we’re — what you’re seeing is enormous growth in the country that was affected by everything from COVID and the COVID blockages that we — occurred along the way.

 

Now, you always have to be taking a look.  And no one is predicting a recession now.  They’re predicting — or some are predicting there may be recession in 2023.  I’m concerned about it, but I know one thing: that, you know, if our Republican friends are really interested in doing something about dealing with the economic growth, they should help us continue to lower the deficit, which we’ve done last year — over $350 billion.

 

They should be willing to work with us to have a tax code that is actually one that works and everybody pays their fair share.  And they should be in a position where you shouldn’t be raising taxes on middle-class folks.  You should be raising taxes on people who everyone acknowledges — and the vast majority of Republicans — aren’t paying their fair share.

 

I’ve said it a hundred times: You have — you know, 50 major corporations of the Fortune 500 companies made $40 billion last year and didn’t pay single penny.  No one under our proposal making under $400,000 a year will see a penny in their taxes go up.  Not one penny.

 

Q    What do you think about tying COVID aid to Ukraine aid?  Do you think COVID aid and Ukraine aid should be tied together in legislation?

 

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I don’t care how they tie — how they do it.  I’m sending them both up.  I mean, I — they can do it separately or together.  But we need them both.

 

Q    Mr. President, Majority Leader Schumer said yesterday that you’re, quote, “getting closer” to using executive authority to cancel up to $50,000 in student loan debt.  Can you confirm that?  What exactly are you looking to — plan to do here in the coming —

 

THE PRESIDENT:  You mean my spokesman said that?

 

Q    Majority Leader Schumer.

 

THE PRESIDENT:  Look, number one, one of — the first thing we did was reform the system that was in place that didn’t work for anybody that allowed people to write off debt if they engaged in public service.  We’ve almost a million — seven hundred and eighty-five — don’t hold me to the exact number; I’ll get the number — seven hundred and some thousand have had debt forgiven — their whole debt forgiven because of their work working in –either as teachers or other means by which they qualify.  And we continue to make that easier.

 

Secondly, I am considering dealing with some debt reduction.  I am not considering $50,000 debt reduction.  But I’m in the process of taking a hard look at whether or not there are going to — there will be additional debt forgiveness, and I’ll have an answer on that in the next couple of weeks.

 

Thank you.

 

11:33 A.M. EDT

 

-------------------------------------

FACT SHEET: White House Calls on Congress to Provide Additional Support for Ukraine

APRIL 28, 2022

 

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

The assistance the Biden-Harris Administration has provided to Ukraine to date has made a significant difference on the battlefield, helping Ukrainians defend their country and win the battle for Kyiv. Now, as the war shifts to and intensifies in Ukraine’s eastern front, the Biden-Harris Administration is calling on Congress to provide additional resources to help ensure Ukraine’s democracy prevails over Putin’s aggression.

 

The supplemental resources Congress provided on a bipartisan basis in March have been critical to bolstering security in Eastern Europe, countering Russia’s malign activities in the region, and delivering critical humanitarian and economic assistance to Ukraine and neighboring partners. Almost all of the $3.5 billion in drawdown authority Congress provided in March has been exhausted as the Biden-Harris Administration has surged military assistance to Ukraine, which they have used to great effect. U.S. supplied weapons and ammunitions – including anti-tank and anti-air systems, helicopters, drones, grenade launchers, and more than 50 million rounds of ammunition – have been flowing into Ukraine daily, and the United States has been working with allies and partners to facilitate deliveries of additional weapons capabilities. The Defense Department has also used $1 billion in supplemental resources to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank and bolster NATO’s security posture to deter Russian aggression.

 

At the same time, the Administration is delivering humanitarian, economic, food, and other security assistance to Ukraine and the region. This includes roughly $1.7 billion to ensure continuity of Ukraine’s democratic operations and provide other macroeconomic assistance to the region. It also includes $650 million in military assistance to Ukraine, eastern flank countries, and other partners in the region, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars in food, shelter, and other humanitarian aid to help Ukrainians who have been displaced by Russia’s war. Supplemental resources are also supporting efforts to hold Putin and his cronies accountable for their war of choice, helping the United States seize billions in assets and holdings.

 

Continued bipartisan support in Congress is vital to ensuring that the Ukrainian people have the resources they need to win this war, and this Administration is committed to working with lawmakers and our global allies and partners to keep aid flowing to Ukraine uninterrupted and to support those devastated by the food crisis that Putin’s war has exacerbated.

 

The $33 billion in security, economic, and humanitarian aid requested today will:

 

Help Ukraine Defend Itself Over the Long-Term

 

The Administration is requesting $20.4 billion in additional security and military assistance for Ukraine and for U.S. efforts to strengthen European security in cooperation with our NATO allies and other partners in the region. This includes $5 billion in additional drawdown authority, $6 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, and $4 billion for the State Department’s Foreign Military Financing program. These resources will put urgently needed equipment into the hands of Ukraine’s military and police, as well as help NATO deter and defend against Russian aggression over the long-term. These additional resources will be used to provide Ukraine and Eastern flank allies with:

 

Additional artillery, armored vehicles, anti-armor and anti-air capabilities flowing into Ukraine uninterrupted.

Accelerated cyber capabilities and advanced air defense systems, improved production capabilities for munitions and strategic minerals, and increased intelligence support.

Assistance to clear landmines, improvised explosive devices, and other explosive remnants of war and for the Government of Ukraine in securing and addressing threats related to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials.

A stronger NATO security posture through support for U.S. troop deployments on NATO territory, including transportation of U.S. personnel and equipment, temporary duty, special pay, airlift, weapons system sustainment, and medical support.

Additional Economic Aid to Support Democracy in Ukraine

 

The Administration is calling on Congress to provide an additional $8.5 billion in economic assistance to help the Government of Ukraine respond to the immediate crisis and continue to provide basic citizen services. This includes funds to:

 

Ensure Ukraine’s democratic government continues functioning; support food, energy, and health care services for the Ukrainian people; and assist the Ukrainian government in responding to operational challenges as businesses shutter and revenue collection plummets.

Counter Russian disinformation and propaganda narratives, promote accountability for Russian human rights violation, and support activists, journalists, and independent media to defend freedom of expression.

Support small- and medium- sized agrobusinesses during the fall harvest and for natural gas purchases by the Ukrainian state energy company in order to address critical food security, energy, and other emerging needs in Ukraine.

Address Humanitarian Needs due to Russia’s War

 

The $3 billion in additional humanitarian assistance will provide critical resources to address food security needs around the globe, provide wheat and other commodities to people in need, build countries’ resilience to global food supply and price shocks, and provide lifesaving aid to people displaced by or otherwise impacted by Putin’s War in Ukraine. This funding will mean:

 

Direct food support, including wheat and flour, for individuals in developing countries impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as helping countries build more resilient agricultural systems.

Medical supplies, high thermal blankets, emergency health kits, safe drinking water, shelter materials, and other lifesaving humanitarian assistance for Ukrainians displaced by Russia’s war.

Job training, trauma-informed mental health services, and resources for local school districts to support Ukrainians arriving in the United States, including the new Uniting for Ukraine program.

Bolster Sanctions Enforcement

 

Resources will also bolster the Department of Justice’s KleptoCapture Task force efforts to pursue high value asset seizures from sanctioned individuals related to Russian actions in Ukraine. The Administration is also proposing legislation to streamline the process to recoup proceeds from seized and forfeited assets and use them to remediate the harm caused in Ukraine.

 

Addressing Economic Disruptions at Home and Around the World Due to Putin’s Aggression

 

An additional $500 million in domestic food production assistance will support the production of U.S. food crops that are experiencing a global shortage due to the war in Ukraine, for example, wheat and soybeans. Through higher loan rates and crop insurance incentives the request provides greater access to credit and lowers risk for farmers growing these food commodities, while lowering costs for American consumers.

 

Additional funding will also allow use of the Defense Production Act to expand domestic production of critical minerals and materials that have been disrupted by Putin’s war in Ukraine and that are necessary to make everything from defense systems to automobiles.  This will help address economic disruptions and reduce price pressures at home and around the world.

 

###

---------------------------------------

FACT SHEET: White House Calls on Congress to Provide Additional Support for Ukraine

APRIL 28, 2022
 

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

The assistance the Biden-Harris Administration has provided to Ukraine to date has made a significant difference on the battlefield, helping Ukrainians defend their country and win the battle for Kyiv. Now, as the war shifts to and intensifies in Ukraine’s eastern front, the Biden-Harris Administration is calling on Congress to provide additional resources to help ensure Ukraine’s democracy prevails over Putin’s aggression.

 

The supplemental resources Congress provided on a bipartisan basis in March have been critical to bolstering security in Eastern Europe, countering Russia’s malign activities in the region, and delivering critical humanitarian and economic assistance to Ukraine and neighboring partners. Almost all of the $3.5 billion in drawdown authority Congress provided in March has been exhausted as the Biden-Harris Administration has surged military assistance to Ukraine, which they have used to great effect. U.S. supplied weapons and ammunitions – including anti-tank and anti-air systems, helicopters, drones, grenade launchers, and more than 50 million rounds of ammunition – have been flowing into Ukraine daily, and the United States has been working with allies and partners to facilitate deliveries of additional weapons capabilities. The Defense Department has also used $1 billion in supplemental resources to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank and bolster NATO’s security posture to deter Russian aggression.

 

At the same time, the Administration is delivering humanitarian, economic, food, and other security assistance to Ukraine and the region. This includes roughly $1.7 billion to ensure continuity of Ukraine’s democratic operations and provide other macroeconomic assistance to the region. It also includes $650 million in military assistance to Ukraine, eastern flank countries, and other partners in the region, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars in food, shelter, and other humanitarian aid to help Ukrainians who have been displaced by Russia’s war. Supplemental resources are also supporting efforts to hold Putin and his cronies accountable for their war of choice, helping the United States seize billions in assets and holdings.

 

Continued bipartisan support in Congress is vital to ensuring that the Ukrainian people have the resources they need to win this war, and this Administration is committed to working with lawmakers and our global allies and partners to keep aid flowing to Ukraine uninterrupted and to support those devastated by the food crisis that Putin’s war has exacerbated.

 

The $33 billion in security, economic, and humanitarian aid requested today will:

 

Help Ukraine Defend Itself Over the Long-Term

 

The Administration is requesting $20.4 billion in additional security and military assistance for Ukraine and for U.S. efforts to strengthen European security in cooperation with our NATO allies and other partners in the region. This includes $5 billion in additional drawdown authority, $6 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, and $4 billion for the State Department’s Foreign Military Financing program. These resources will put urgently needed equipment into the hands of Ukraine’s military and police, as well as help NATO deter and defend against Russian aggression over the long-term. These additional resources will be used to provide Ukraine and Eastern flank allies with:

 

Additional artillery, armored vehicles, anti-armor and anti-air capabilities flowing into Ukraine uninterrupted.

Accelerated cyber capabilities and advanced air defense systems, improved production capabilities for munitions and strategic minerals, and increased intelligence support.

Assistance to clear landmines, improvised explosive devices, and other explosive remnants of war and for the Government of Ukraine in securing and addressing threats related to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials.

A stronger NATO security posture through support for U.S. troop deployments on NATO territory, including transportation of U.S. personnel and equipment, temporary duty, special pay, airlift, weapons system sustainment, and medical support.

Additional Economic Aid to Support Democracy in Ukraine

 

The Administration is calling on Congress to provide an additional $8.5 billion in economic assistance to help the Government of Ukraine respond to the immediate crisis and continue to provide basic citizen services. This includes funds to:

 

Ensure Ukraine’s democratic government continues functioning; support food, energy, and health care services for the Ukrainian people; and assist the Ukrainian government in responding to operational challenges as businesses shutter and revenue collection plummets.

Counter Russian disinformation and propaganda narratives, promote accountability for Russian human rights violation, and support activists, journalists, and independent media to defend freedom of expression.

Support small- and medium- sized agrobusinesses during the fall harvest and for natural gas purchases by the Ukrainian state energy company in order to address critical food security, energy, and other emerging needs in Ukraine.

Address Humanitarian Needs due to Russia’s War

 

The $3 billion in additional humanitarian assistance will provide critical resources to address food security needs around the globe, provide wheat and other commodities to people in need, build countries’ resilience to global food supply and price shocks, and provide lifesaving aid to people displaced by or otherwise impacted by Putin’s War in Ukraine. This funding will mean:

 

Direct food support, including wheat and flour, for individuals in developing countries impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as helping countries build more resilient agricultural systems.

Medical supplies, high thermal blankets, emergency health kits, safe drinking water, shelter materials, and other lifesaving humanitarian assistance for Ukrainians displaced by Russia’s war.

Job training, trauma-informed mental health services, and resources for local school districts to support Ukrainians arriving in the United States, including the new Uniting for Ukraine program.

Bolster Sanctions Enforcement

 

Resources will also bolster the Department of Justice’s KleptoCapture Task force efforts to pursue high value asset seizures from sanctioned individuals related to Russian actions in Ukraine. The Administration is also proposing legislation to streamline the process to recoup proceeds from seized and forfeited assets and use them to remediate the harm caused in Ukraine.

 

Addressing Economic Disruptions at Home and Around the World Due to Putin’s Aggression

 

An additional $500 million in domestic food production assistance will support the production of U.S. food crops that are experiencing a global shortage due to the war in Ukraine, for example, wheat and soybeans. Through higher loan rates and crop insurance incentives the request provides greater access to credit and lowers risk for farmers growing these food commodities, while lowering costs for American consumers.

 

Additional funding will also allow use of the Defense Production Act to expand domestic production of critical minerals and materials that have been disrupted by Putin’s war in Ukraine and that are necessary to make everything from defense systems to automobiles.  This will help address economic disruptions and reduce price pressures at home and around the world.

 

###

---------------------------------

President Biden Announces Nominee for
Ambassador to Ukraine

APRIL 25, 2022

 

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

WASHINGTON – Today, President Biden announced his intention to nominate veteran U.S. diplomat Bridget A. Brink to serve as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine.

 

Bridget A. Brink, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine

 

Bridget A. Brink, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, currently serves as the U.S. Ambassador to the Slovak Republic. Prior to that, she served as Senior Advisor and Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, with responsibility for issues related to Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. She also served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassies in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and Tbilisi, Georgia. Brink spent her twenty-five-year career in the Foreign Service focused on advancing U.S. policy in Europe and Eurasia. She was the Director for the Aegean and the South Caucasus at the National Security Council and served in the State Department as the Deputy Director for Southern European Affairs, Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs, and Cyprus Desk Officer. She began her career in Belgrade, Serbia.

 

Originally from Michigan, Brink is the recipient of numerous performance awards. She holds Master’s degrees in International Relations and Political Theory from the London School of Economics and Political Science, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Kenyon College. She speaks Russian and has studied Slovak, Serbian, Georgian, and French.

 

###

------------------------------------

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson on
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s meeting with
Prime Minister Shmyhal of Ukraine

APRIL 22, 2022

 

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal of Ukraine this afternoon. Mr. Sullivan conveyed the United States’ unwavering commitment to supporting the government and people of Ukraine. The two discussed the security, economic, and humanitarian assistance the United States is providing, including the new support announced by President Biden yesterday, and ongoing efforts with international partners to impose further costs on Russia for its unprovoked aggression.

 

###

-----------------------------------

Remarks By President Biden Providing an
Update on Russia and Ukraine

APRIL 21, 2022

 

SPEECHES AND REMARKS

Roosevelt Room

 

10:01 A.M. EDT

 

THE PRESIDENT:  Good morning, everyone.  Sorry to keep you waiting a little bit.  I had the honor of spending some time with the Ukrainian Prime Minister, who’s in town today.  And he is meeting with some of my Cabinet members, including the Secretary of Treasury and others.

 

And we had a — a good discussion.  I talked about what I’m about to tell you about today, as well as — he was thanking the American people for their support, understands it’s significant, and was — we talked about keeping everyone together, in terms of Europe, the European Union, and others, in the effort to stop Putin’s brutality.

 

But before I head out to the West Coast, I want to quickly update the American people on the latest steps we’re taking to support the people of Ukraine and to hold Putin accountable for his brutal and bloody war.

 

Russian forces have retreated from Kyiv, leaving behind them a horrifying evidence.  And you’ve seen it and you reported it — your folks.  And, by the way, I — I don’t say this often, but I think we should give enormous credit to the folks in your agencies that are on the ground in Ukraine, in these spots.  And they’re — they’re really — I’ve spoken to several of them.  It’s a — we owe them.  But uncovering these evidences of their atrocities and war crimes against the Ukrainian people — it’s so clear to the whole world now.

 

Now they’ve launched and refocused their campaign to seize new territory in eastern Ukraine.

 

And we’re in a critical window now of time where that — they’re going to set the stage for the next phase of this war.

 

And the United States and our Allies and partners are moving as fast as possible to continue to provide Ukraine the forces that they need — the weapons they need — excuse me — and the equipment they need — their forces need to defend their nation.

 

Last week, I signed an $800 million package of security assistance to Ukraine that included new capabilities like artillery systems and armored personnel carriers — equipment that is responsive to Ukraine’s needs and tailored to support the intensified fighting in the Donbas region, which is a different war than in other places because both — topographically it’s different.  It’s flat, it’s not in the mountains, and it requires different kinds of weapons to be more effective.  

 

Today, I’m announcing another $800 million to further augment Ukraine’s ability to fight in the east — in the Donbas region.

 

This package includes heavy artillery weapons — dozens of Howitzers — and 144,000 rounds of ammunition to go with those Howitzers.  It also includes more tactical drones.

 

In the past two months, we’ve moved weapons and equipment to Ukraine at record speed.

 

We’ve sent thousands of anti-armor and anti-[air] missile[s], helicopters, drones, grenade launchers, machine guns, rifles, radar systems. More than 50 million rounds of ammunition had already been sent.

 

The United States alone has provided 10 anti-armor systems for every one Russian tank that’s in Ukraine — a 10 to 1 ratio.

 

We’re sharing and will continue to share significant, timely intelligence with Ukraine to help defend them against Russian aggression.

 

And on top of this, these direct contributions from the United States, we’re facilitating; we’re the outfit facilitating the significant flow of weapons and systems to Ukraine from other Allies and partners around the world, like the S-300 long-range, anti-aircraft systems that Slovakia recently transferred to Ukraine.  We are getting them in there.

 

We won’t always be able to advertise everything we — that our partners are doing to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom.

 

But to modernize Teddy Roosevelt’s famous advice: Sometimes we will speak softly and carry a large Javelin.  Because we’re sending a lot of those in as well.

 

You know, but we’re not — we’re not sitting on the funding that Congress has provided for Ukraine.  We’re sending it directly to the frontlines of freedom, to the fearless and skilled Ukrainian fighters who are standing in the breach.

 

You got to admit, you have — must be amazed at the courage of this country, the resolve that they’re showing, not just the milit- — their military, but the average citizen: men and women, young — young men, young women as well.  

 

It’s — you know, the sustained and coordinated support of the international community, led and facilitated by the United States, has a — is a significant reason why Ukraine is able to stop Russia from taking over their country thus far.  

 

Every American taxpayer, every member of our Armed Forces can be proud of the fact that our country’s generosity and the skill and service of our military helped arm and repel Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, to beat back Putin’s savagery that tried to seize Ukraine’s capital and wipe out Ukraine’s government.

 

The Battle of Kyiv was a historic victory for the Ukrainians.  It was a victory for freedom, won by the Ukrainian people with unprecedented assistance by the United States and our Allies and our partners.

 

Now — now we have to accelerate that assistance package to help prepare Ukraine for Russia’s offensive that’s going to be more limited in terms of geography, but not in terms of brutality — not in terms of brutality.   

 

Combined with our recent drawdowns, it will ensure a steady flow of weapons and equipment into Ukraine over the next few weeks.

 

However, with this latest disbursement, I’ve almost exhausted the drawdown authority I have that Congress authorized for Ukraine in a bipartisan spending bill last month.

 

In order to sustain Ukraine for the duration of this fight, next week I’m going to — have to be sending to Congress a supplemental budget request to keep weapons and ammunition flowing without interruption to the brave Ukrainian fighters and to continue to deliver economic assistance to the Ukrainian people.

 

Hope — and my hope is and my expectation is Congress would move and act quickly.  And I want to thank the Congress — Democrats and Republicans — for their support for the people of Ukraine.

 

Our unity at home, our unity with our Allies and partners, and our unity with the Ukrainian people is sending an unmistakable message to Putin: He will never succeed in dominating and occupying all of Ukraine.  He will not — that will not happen.  

 

In addition to bolstering Ukraine’s resistance on the battlefield, we’re also demonstrating our support for the people of Ukraine.

 

Today, the United States is announcing that we intend to provide an additional $500 million in direct economic assistance to the Ukrainian government.

 

This brings our total economic support for Ukraine to $1 billion in the past two months.

 

This is money the government can help use to help stabilize their economy, to support communities that have been devastated by the Russian onslaught, and pay the brave workers that continue to provide essential services to the people of Ukraine.

 

You know, these past weeks have seen a terrible human cost of Putin’s ambition for conquest and control.  Approximately two thirds — two thirds — of all Ukrainian children have been displaced from their homes.  More than 5 million Ukrainians have fled their country.  It’s an absolute outrage.  The idea this is happening approaching the second quarter of the 21st century is just — (sighs).

 

Last month, when I was in Europe, I announced that the United States would welcome 100,000 Ukrainians so that we share in the responsibility of supporting Ukrainians fleeing Putin’s war machine.

 

We’ve already welcomed tens of thousands of Ukrainians to the United States.

 

And today, I’m announcing a program, “Unite for Ukraine” — a new program to enable Ukrainians seeking refuge to come directly from Europe to the United States.

 

This new humanitarian parole program will complement the existing legal pathways available to Ukrainians, including immigrant visas and refugee processing.

 

It will provide an expedient channel for secure, legal migration from Europe to the United States for Ukrainians who have a U.S. sponsor, such as a family or an NGO.

 

This program will be fast.  It will be streamlined.  And it will ensure the United States honors its commitment to go to the Ukrainian people and need not go through our southern border.

 

We’re also continuing to ratchet up the pressure on Putin and further isolate Russia on the world stage.

 

Yesterday, the Treasury Department rolled out additional measures to crack down on the entities and individuals attempting to evade our unprecedented sanctions — not just ours, but throughout the West.

 

Today, I’m announcing that the United States will ban Russian-affiliated ships from our ports, as they did in Europe.

 

That means no ship — no ship that sails under the Russian flag or that is owned or operated by Russian interests will be allowed to dock in a United States port or access our shores.  None.  None.

 

This is yet another critical step we’re taking in concert with our partners in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada and — further to deny Russia the benefits of the international economic system that they so enjoyed in the past.  

 

We don’t know how long this war will last.  But as we approach the two-month mark, here’s what we do know:

 

Putin has failed to achieve his grand ambitions on the battlefield.  After weeks of shelling Kyiv, Kyiv still stands.

 

President Zelenskyy and his democratically elected government still remain in power.

 

And the Ukrainian armed forces, joined by many brave Ukrainian civilians, have thwarted Russia’s conquest of their country.

 

They have been bolstered from day one by an unstinting supply of weapons, ammunition, armor, intelligence from the nations of the free world led by us, the United States.

 

As Russia continues to grind out the military advances and — their military advances and the brutalities against Ukraine, Putin is banking on us losing interest.  That’s been my view; you’ve heard me say this from the beginning.  He was counting on NATO, the European Union, our allies in Asia cracking, moving away.  He’s betting on Western unity will crack.  He’s still betting on that.

 

And, once again, we’re going to prove him wrong.  We will not lessen our resolve.  We’re going to continue to stand with the brave and proud people of Ukraine.  We will never fail in our determination to defend freedom and oppose tyranny.  It’s as simple as that.

 

So, again, I want to thank the American people — thank the American people for their support of the Ukrainian people.  This is our — this is our responsibility, it seems to me, and we’ve been able to hold the whole world together in this effort.

 

So, thank you very much.  Thank you.

 

Q    Mr. President —

 

THE PRESIDENT:  I’m going to take just one or two questions.  I’ve got a plane to catch.

 

Q    What does — what does Putin claiming control over Mariupol mean?  Is that — how significant is that?

 

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, first of all, it’s questionable whether he does control Mariupol.  One thing for sure we know about Mariupol: He should allow humanitarian corridors to let people on that steel mill and other places that are buried under rubble to get out — to get out.  That’s what any, any, any head of state would do in such a circumstance.

 

And so, there is no evidence yet that Mariupol has completely fallen.

 

Q    Mr. President, on Title 42, sir, are you considering delaying lifting Title 42?

 

THE PRESIDENT:  No.  What I’m considering is continuing to hear from my — my —

 

Well, first of all, there’s going to be an appeal by the Justice Department because, as a matter of principle, we want to be able to be in a position where if, in fact, it is strongly concluded by the scientists that we need Title 42, that we be able to do that.

 

But there has been no decision on extending Title 42.

 

Thank you.

 

Q    Mr. President, how long can the U.S. maintain the level and pace of this military support for Ukraine?

 

THE PRESIDENT:  I — well, we have the capacity to do this for a long time.  The question is: Are we going to continue to maintain the support of the international community and keep the pressure on Putin to prevent him from overrunning the country?  Number one.  And, number two, make sure we continue to maintain the economic sanctions, which, over time — and we’re beginning to see it — are devastating their economy and their ability to move forward.

 

So, the most important thing right now is maintain the unity.  So far, so good.

 

Thank you very much.

 

Q    How much money are you going to ask for in the supplemental?  How much money in the supplemental, sir?

 

THE PRESIDENT:  The answer — that’s being decided now.  And I’m asking the Defense Department to put together what they think we need.

 

Thank you.

 

10:14 A.M. EDT

 

--------------------------------------

Statement by President Joe Biden on Call with
President Zelenskyy and
Additional Security Assistance to Ukraine

APRIL 13, 2022

 

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

I just spoke with President Zelenskyy and shared with him that my Administration is authorizing an additional $800 million in weapons, ammunition, and other security assistance to Ukraine. The Ukrainian military has used the weapons we are providing to devastating effect. As Russia prepares to intensify its attack in the Donbas region, the United States will continue to provide Ukraine with the capabilities to defend itself.

 

This new package of assistance will contain many of the highly effective weapons systems we have already provided and new capabilities tailored to the wider assault we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine. These new capabilities include artillery systems, artillery rounds, and armored personnel carriers. I have also approved the transfer of additional helicopters. In addition, we continue to facilitate the transfer of significant capabilities from our Allies and partners around the world.

 

The steady supply of weapons the United States and its Allies and partners have provided to Ukraine has been critical in sustaining its fight against the Russian invasion. It has helped ensure that Putin failed in his initial war aims to conquer and control Ukraine. We cannot rest now. As I assured President Zelenskyy, the American people will continue to stand with the brave Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom.

 

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-----------------------------------------

Statement from the President on Delivery of
Air Defense Systems to Ukraine

APRIL 08, 2022

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

Since the outset of my administration, the United States has placed the highest priority on delivering critical military capabilities to Ukraine so it can defend itself against Russian aggression. The entire world has now witnessed the effectiveness of those weapons, as courageous Ukrainian forces have used them to repel the Russian attack on Kyiv, keep the skies of Ukraine contested, and deliver severe blows to the Russian military.

 

In addition to U.S.-produced weapons, we have also worked to facilitate the transfer of capabilities from our Allies and partners around the world. I want to thank the Slovakian government for providing an S-300 air defense system to Ukraine, something President Zelenskyy has personally raised with me in our conversations. To enable this transfer and ensure the continued security of Slovakia, the United States will reposition a U.S. Patriot missile system to Slovakia.  

 

Now is no time for complacency. The Russian military may have failed in its objective of capturing Kyiv, but it continues to inflict horrific acts of brutality on the Ukrainian people. As the Russian military repositions for the next phase of this war, I have directed my Administration to continue to spare no effort to identify and provide to the Ukrainian military the advanced weapons capabilities it needs to defend its country.

 

###

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement from the President on Delivery of
Air Defense Systems to Ukraine

APRIL 08, 2022

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

Since the outset of my administration, the United States has placed the highest priority on delivering critical military capabilities to Ukraine so it can defend itself against Russian aggression. The entire world has now witnessed the effectiveness of those weapons, as courageous Ukrainian forces have used them to repel the Russian attack on Kyiv, keep the skies of Ukraine contested, and deliver severe blows to the Russian military.

 

In addition to U.S.-produced weapons, we have also worked to facilitate the transfer of capabilities from our Allies and partners around the world. I want to thank the Slovakian government for providing an S-300 air defense system to Ukraine, something President Zelenskyy has personally raised with me in our conversations. To enable this transfer and ensure the continued security of Slovakia, the United States will reposition a U.S. Patriot missile system to Slovakia.  

 

Now is no time for complacency. The Russian military may have failed in its objective of capturing Kyiv, but it continues to inflict horrific acts of brutality on the Ukrainian people. As the Russian military repositions for the next phase of this war, I have directed my Administration to continue to spare no effort to identify and provide to the Ukrainian military the advanced weapons capabilities it needs to defend its country.

 

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Statement of President Joe Biden on the UN Vote Suspending Russia from the Human Rights Council

APRIL 07, 2022

 

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

I applaud the overwhelming vote today in the General Assembly of the United Nations to kick Russia off the UN Human Rights Council. This is a meaningful step by the international community further demonstrating how Putin’s war has made Russia an international pariah.

 

The United States worked closely with our Allies and partners around the world to drive this vote because Russia is committing gross and systemic violations of human rights. Russian forces are committing war crimes. Russia has no place on the Human Rights Council. After today’s historic vote, Russia will not be able to participate in the Council’s work or spread its disinformation there as the Council’s Commission of Inquiry investigates Russia’s violations and abuses of human rights in Ukraine.

 

The images we are seeing out of Bucha and other areas of Ukraine as Russian troops withdraw are horrifying. The signs of people being raped, tortured, executed—in some cases having their bodies desecrated—are an outrage to our common humanity. Russia’s lies are no match for the undeniable evidence of what is happening in Ukraine. That’s why nations in every region condemn Russia’s unprovoked and brutal aggression against Ukraine and support the brave people of Ukraine in their fight for freedom. And we will continue to work with responsible nations around the world to gather evidence to hold Russia accountable for the atrocities being committed, increase the pressure on Russia’s economy, and isolate Russia on the international stage.

 

 

 

Battle of Bucha

 

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, heavy fighting took place in Bucha as part of the Kyiv offensive, resulting in severe Russian losses. The city was captured by Russian forces on 12 March. Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk announced the recapture of Bucha by Ukrainian forces on 31 March 2022.

 

On April 7, the Russian media Meduza published a drone video taken from March 23 to 30, 2022 in Bucha, proving that people were killed during the occupation of the town by the Russians.

 

Bucha massacre:  On 2 April 2022, news reports and video emerged showing streets in Bucha covered with the bodies of men dressed in civilian clothes. Some of those found had their hands tied. Among those killed were women and children. According to first estimations at least 280 bodies were found.[9] There was also evidence that Russian soldiers had systemically tortured, mutilated and executed many Ukrainians in the basement of a summer camp.[10]  One of the soldiers said that some of the bodies had cut-off ears or pulled out teeth, and that the bodies had been removed a day before the interview. Corpses of other killed civilians were left in the road. An investigation by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty verified that the basement was used as a torture chamber by Russian forces.  

 

The event caused the Ukrainian government to call on the ICC to investigate whether or not Russia had committed war crimes.

 

On April 7, the mayor of Bucha, Anatoly Fedoruk, reported that almost 90% of the dead residents had bullet wounds, not shrapnel wounds.

-----------------------------------

 

 

A Message to the Congress, on Prohibiting New Investment in and Certain Services to the Russian Federation in Response to Continued Russian Federation Aggression

APRIL 06, 2022

 

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:

 

Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby report that I have issued an Executive Order in order to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14024 of April 15, 2021, with respect to the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States posed by specified harmful foreign activities of the Government of the Russian Federation.  

 

    The order prohibits the following:  (i) new investment in the Russian Federation by a United States person, wherever located; (ii) the exportation, reexportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States, or by a United States person, wherever located, of any category of services as may be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to any person located in the Russian Federation; and (iii) any approval, financing, facilitation, or guarantee by a United States person, wherever located, of a transaction by a foreign person where the transaction by that foreign person would be prohibited by this section if performed by a United States person or within the United States.

 

     I am enclosing a copy of the Executive Order I have issued.

 

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

 

THE WHITE HOUSE,

  April 6, 2022.

----------------------------------

Prohibiting New Investment in and Certain Services to the Russian Federation in Response to Continued Russian Federation Aggression

APRIL 06, 2022

 

PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code,

 

I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, in order to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14024 of April 15, 2021, expanded by Executive Order 14066 of March 8, 2022, and relied on for additional steps taken in Executive Order 14039 of August 20, 2021, and Executive Order 14068 of March 11, 2022, hereby order:

    

 Section 1.  (a)  The following are prohibited:

         (i)  new investment in the Russian Federation by a United States person, wherever located;

         (ii)  the exportation, reexportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States, or by a United States person, wherever located, of any category of services as may be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to any person located in the Russian Federation; and

         (iii) any approval, financing, facilitation, or guarantee by a United States person, wherever located, of a transaction by a foreign person where the transaction by that foreign person would be prohibited by this section if performed by a United States person or within the United States.

    (b)  The prohibitions in subsection (a) of this section apply except to the extent provided by statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or license or permit granted prior to the date of this order.

     

     Sec. 2.  (a)  Any transaction that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.

     (b)  Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.

     

     Sec. 3.  Nothing in this order shall prohibit transactions for the conduct of the official business of the Federal Government or the United Nations (including its specialized agencies, programs, funds, and related organizations) by employees, grantees, or contractors thereof.

    

      Sec. 4.  For the purposes of this order:

     (a)  the term “entity” means a partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization;

     (b)  the term “person” means an individual or entity; and

     (c)  the term “United States person” means any United States citizen, lawful permanent resident, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign branches), or any person in the United States.

     

     Sec. 5.  The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order.  The Secretary of the Treasury may, consistent with applicable law, redelegate any of these functions within the Department of the Treasury.  All executive departments and agencies of the United States shall take all appropriate measures within their authority to implement this order.

     

     Sec. 6.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

         (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

         (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

      (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

      (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

 

 

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

 

 THE WHITE HOUSE,

    April 6, 2022.

 

-------------------------------------------------

 

Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials on New Economic Costs on Russia

APRIL 06, 2022

 

PRESS BRIEFINGS

Via Teleconference

 

10:05 A.M. EDT

 

MODERATOR:  Thank you.  And thanks, everyone, for joining us today.

 

So, as a quick reminder, this call is on background, attributable to a “senior administration official,” and the contents of this call are embargoed until the end of the call.

 

For your awareness and not for reporting, our speaker on the call today is [senior administration official].

 

So, with that, I’ll turn it over to you for some opening remarks.

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Thank you, [moderator].  Thanks, everybody, for joining.  Yeah, I’ll say a few things at the top, and then happy to jump into your questions.

 

The sickening brutality in Bucha has made tragically clear the despicable nature of the Putin regime.  And today, in alignment with G7 allies and partners, we’re intensifying the most severe sanctions ever levied on a major economy.

 

All of you have seen the factsheet, so I’m going to step back and just explain the rationale for choosing these actions in the context of the five pillars that underpin our sanctions strategy.

 

So, number one, as all of you know, we’ve sought to generate a financial shock by cutting off Russia’s largest banks and its central bank from doing any business with the U.S. and freezing any of its assets that touch the U.S. financial system or those of our allies.

 

And today, we’re dramatically escalating the financial shock by imposing full blocking sanctions on Russia’s largest financial institution, Sberbank, and its largest private bank, Alfa Bank.

 

Sberbank is the main artery in the Russian financial system.  By itself, it holds nearly one third of Russia’s total banking sector assets; that’s over $500 billion.  That’s roughly twice the size of the second-largest Russian bank, which we previously fully blocked.

 

And in total, we’ve now fully blocked more than two thirds of the Russian banking sector, which, before the invasion, held $1.4 trillion in assets.  

 

Number two, we said we would cut off cutting-edge exports to Russia to disable Putin’s military and deny him the ability to diversify and modernize his economy.

 

So, today, in alignment with the G7 and the EU, we’re announcing a ban on new investment in Russia, which President Biden will implement with an executive order.  And this will make sure that the mass exodus from Russia that we’re seeing from the private sector, which is now over 600 multinational companies and growing — that it will endure.

 

And without investment from our private sector, Putin will lose private sector know-how and skills that travel with investment, and the knock-on effects to the ongoing brain drain from Russia will be profound.

 

Third, we’ve said we’re methodically ejecting Russia from the international economic order to deny the privileges and benefits it once enjoyed, such as its most-favored-nation trading status, its borrowing privileges from the IMF and the World Bank.

 

And in that spirit, on Monday we cut off Russia’s ability to use its frozen central bank funds to make debt payments.  And so, Russia will now have to find new sources of dollars from outside the U.S. and to find a new payment route, other than U.S. banks, to avoid falling into default.  And that’s Russia’s choice as to how it proceeds.

 

And of course, even if Russia taps into other sources of hard currency to remain current on its debt obligations, that will translate into fewer resources available to Putin to fund his war machine.

 

Fourth, we’ve said we’d degrade Russia’s status as a leading energy supplier and thereby cut off its largest source of export and budget revenue.  We’ve done that previously by banning U.S. imports of Russian oil, gas, and coal; by working with the Germans and the EU to shut down Nord Stream 2; and by cutting off energy technologies that Russia needs to sustain its oil and gas production.

 

And today, just as a preview, you’ll hear more from the EU on their efforts to take this a step further.

 

Lastly, we said we’d expose Russia’s kleptocracy and show that Putin and his cronies have been ripping off the Russian people for decades.  Already, before today, we had sanctioned more than 140 oligarchs and their family members, and over 400 Russian government officials.  These are the key architects of the war.

 

And today, we’re sanctioning Putin’s adult children, Minister Lavrov’s wife and his daughter, and members of Russia’s Security Council.

 

In terms of impact — and we can get into this in the questions if you’d like — I mean, as all of you have seen, these sanctions are generating the impact we warned Putin about for months prior to the invasion.  Russia’s GDP is projected to shrink by double digits this year.  And to put that in perspective, that’s more than twice the contraction it suffered after it defaulted in 1998.

 

But unlike then, when Russia was in the process of getting integrated into the global economy, it’s now in the process of being isolated as a pariah state.

 

The economic shock this year alone is projected by the IEF to wipe out the past 15 years of economic gains.  Russia used to be the 11th-largest economy in the world.  It’s now very likely to drop out of the top 20.

 

Inflation: The latest print this week was that inflation in Russia is already above 15 percent and projected to hit 20 percent or more.  Interest rates in Russia are already 20 percent.

 

And so, this combination of sky-high inflation and interest rates will cripple Russia’s long-term growth potential and so will the exit of the more than 600 companies that I referenced earlier.  

 

And the sad reality is Putin’s war will make it harder for Russians to travel abroad.  It means their debit cards may not work.  They may only have the option to buy knockoff phones and knockoff clothes.  The shelves at stores may be empty.  The reality is the country is descending into economic and financial and technological isolation.  And at this rate, it will go back to Soviet-style living standards from the 1980s.

 

But look, don’t take my word for it: Putin himself has said the sanctions will require deep structural changes to the Russian economy to deal with the new realities, including inflation and unemployment.  Minister Lavrov has said “no one could have predicted” the central bank actions.

 

They simply weren’t prepared for their economic fortress to crumble.  And that’s what’s happened.

 

Let me stop there and take your questions.

 

MODERATOR:  Thank you.  Could we cue up the directions to ask a question please?

 

Q    Thanks for doing this.  My question is about India.  You were [redacted], and that’s been reported on extensively.  Where does India stand on the second set of sanctions?  And how far have they come towards convergence on the U.S. view regarding the sanctions (inaudible) applied?

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Thanks for the question.  You know, India is our friend; India is our partner.  And we share — we share interests, and we share core principles that are at stake in this conflict.  And we’ve had extensive discussions about ways to further our cooperation on global food security, on global energy supplies, and certainly in terms of recognizing that Putin’s brutality affects all of us.  And the geopolitical implications of Russia’s actions do have ripple effects.

 

So, we — India is not part of the G7.  It’s a guest country this year.  So, we will certainly collaborate with India and share the details of our measures.  And, of course, we remain hopeful that we can have alignment to the maximum extent possible.  Thank you.

 

Q    Hi, thanks.  I’m just wondering if you could clarify on Putin’s adult children.  Are you sanctioning his two daughters, Mariya Putina and Katerina Tikhonova?  Or are there any additional children that you have identified that you are applying sanctions to?  Thank you.

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Yeah, you’ve got it right.  Those are the two.

 

Q    Hi there.  Thank you for taking our questions.  Can you speak a little bit more about these full blocking sanctions come on the major SOEs that are coming tomorrow?  Is that, sort of like, all major SOEs or a certain major?  Are there particular sectors?  Thank you.

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Sure.  So these are not all Russian SOEs.  And they will not be energy — they will not be SOEs in the energy sector.  You’ll hear more from Treasury tomorrow on the specific institutions, and that will likely come later today or tomorrow.

 

Q    Hi there.  Thanks for doing this call.  I wanted to just ask if you could say whether you saw, currently, that China is complying with sanctions that you’ve implemented so far, and what the thinking is on applying secondary sanctions to Chinese or other foreign companies or entities.  Thank you.

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Sure.  So as I think everyone is aware, we’ve had a series of private consultations, going up to the highest level of our government and China’s government, about the importance of respecting the sanctions regime that we’ve put in place as well as the export controls.  And I don’t have anything new to tell you, other than we’ve been really clear about the consequences of any efforts to circumvent or backfill those sanctions.

 

And you’ve seen, I think, in the public rhetoric from China that they’re not, openly at least, indicating any intention to do so.  And we’re watching that very closely.

 

Q    Thank you very much for doing this call.  Can you tell us whether you think these sanctions and all the impact on Russia will actually stop Russia’s military advances given the projection to Congress yesterday from General Milley that this war could last years?  And Vladimir Putin — it doesn’t seem signs of slowing down.

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I think — yeah, thanks, Andrea.  I mean, I’ll say it this way: I mean, sanctions are never a standalone solution.  We don’t impose these costs as an end to themselves.  And, you know, in our judgment, sanctions work when they’re embedded in a broader strategy, and you referenced this.  It has to — these sanctions have to work alongside doing all we can to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom.  They work alongside doing all we can to help the rest of the world deal with the spillovers of Putin’s war.

 

And that’s why we’ve surged supplies of energy.  It’s why we’re coming together to welcome the millions of refugees that are fleeing Ukraine, and trying to come together with the rest of the world to deal with the disruptions to global food supply.

 

And if we execute on all those fronts — and that’s our that’s our plan; that’s our strategy — that’s how we create staying power in these sanctions.  And staying the course is how we think we’ll create leverage for the outcome that we’re seeking.

 

And I’ll — let me add one more point on the sanctions impact: I mean, even an autocrat like Putin has a social contract with the Russian people.  He took away their freedom in exchange for promising stability.  And so he’s not giving them stability at the moment; he’s giving them instability and insecurity, and he’s imposing that upon them.  And at some point, that ought to matter to any leader if only because they care about staying in power.

 

So the question really is not so much, “What can we do and when will that have an effect?”  I think it’s, “What’s the endgame here for Putin?  What’s he playing for?”

 

This is very clearly becoming a failure for him.  And at some point, he will have to recognize that reality.

 

Q    Hello.  Hi, [senior administration official].  Thank you for doing this.  Earlier, you mentioned that you have worked with senior Chinese officials regarding those sanctions.  Do you also find that China is also learning how United States and allies are using the financial sanctions right now and possibly find ways to counter those measures in the future if, one day, China has to face similar sanctions?  Thank you.

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  No, I think, you know, China has become — has gained an economic prominence by engaging with the world, by integrating itself with the global economy and with the global financial system.

 

And the United States — because of the quality of our financial markets, the transparency of our regulations, the effectiveness of our corporate governance, and really the soft power that we’ve enjoyed for decades and decades — is the central player in the global financial system.  And so we will remain integrated with China as long as it continues to engage with the world.

 

And so, you know, that’s the way in which we have leverage with financial sanctions.  And we don’t use that leverage in an arbitrary way.  We use that leverage when we’re defending a core international principle.  And that’s certainly what’s going on in the crisis in Ukraine.

 

We’re using these sanctions because we want to demonstrate resolve and say, “You can’t redraw your neighbors’ borders at the barrel of a gun.  You can’t subjugate their free will.  Countries have the right to set their own course and choose their own destiny.”  That’s — those are the conditions in which we use these sanctions.  We know how severe they are.  And our message to China is: We hope you respect those principles.

 

Q    Hi.  Thank you guys for doing the call.  I just had a more, sort of, technical question.  Could you clarify specifically the sanctions that are being placed on Sberbank: how those differ or what is being done, compared to what had already been put on them earlier this month?  I’m just unclear on that.

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Sure.  Yeah.  And thanks for asking that, because previously we had imposed what are called “dollar-clearing prohibition” with Sberbank, which meant that any transactions that Sberbank tried to undertake with a U.S. financial institution using dollars would not be allowed.

 

So now, this is a full blocking sanction, which means that any transaction in any currency with a U.S. person or a U.S. institution is prohibited, and also any of Sberbank’s assets that touch the U.S. financial system are now frozen.

 

So, it’s a — it’s a much more severe action.  This is the most severe action we can take in terms of financial measures.

 

And in practice, the history of sanctions show us that when we impose a full blocking sanction on a financial institution, that the rest of the world, even in other jurisdictions that have not yet imposed a full blocking sanction, they respect the regime and so there tends to be a multiplier effect.  That’s what we expect to happen here as well.

 

Q    Okay, thank you.  And to be clear, there’s no carve-outs there?

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I’m sorry, I should have said there is a carve-out for energy, yes.  Just like the other full block — full blocking sanctions.  It’s the same carve-out.

 

Q    Hi, thanks very much.  I was wondering if there has been discussion of the downside effects of so detaching the Russians from the global economy that their investment in it over the long term basically becomes so diminished that they become more interested in disruptive action than any hope that they would get back in?

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Well, I mean, I would say this, David — is the sanctions are designed to be quite flexible.  We can escalate and we can de-escalate depending on the circumstances.

 

And — but really, the way to think of it, if you want a metaphor, it’s a negative feedback loop.  So, we deny capital, we deny technology, we deny talent that can flow into Russia.  And the combination of the steps that we’re taking create this downward spiral that accelerates the more that Putin escalates.

 

And if he were to change course, someday, that negative feedback loop would slow and could possibly reverse.  None of this is permanent.  The only aspect that’s permanent are the lives that he’s taken away, and he can never bring those back.

 

But the sanctions — the sanctions are designed to be able to respond to the conditions on the ground and to create leverage for the outcome we seek.

 

Q    Hi.  Thanks again for doing the call.  About the sanctions against Putin’s daughters: Are these symbolic sanctions or do you have reason to believe that they do have assets either in the U.S. or in Europe?

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Well, we have reason to believe that Putin and many of his cronies and the oligarchs hide their wealth, hide their assets with family members, that place their assets and their wealth in the U.S. financial system but also many other parts of the world.  And that’s why the coordination — the coordinated effort to freeze their assets and seize their physical luxury goods — their cars, their yachts, their homes, et cetera — that’s why it’s so important that we act together.

 

But to answer your question directly: Yes, we believe that many of Putin’s assets are hidden with family members, and that’s why we’re targeting them.

 

Q    Thank you.

 

MODERATOR:  So, thanks, everyone, for joining.

 

Given the call is ending a little bit earlier than 10:30, we’re going to go ahead and lift the embargo on the factsheet as well.  So, now that the call has ended, you know, both the content of the call and the factsheet embargo will lift.

 

And as a reminder, this call was on background, attributable to a “senior administration official.”  So, thanks, everyone, for joining.

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Thank you.

 

10:25 A.M. EDT

 

FACT SHEET: United States, G7 and EU Impose Severe and Immediate Costs on Russia

APRIL 06, 2022

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

Today, the United States, with the G7 and the European Union, will continue to impose severe and immediate economic costs on the Putin regime for its atrocities in Ukraine, including in Bucha. We will document and share information on these atrocities and use all appropriate mechanisms to hold accountable those responsible. As one part of this effort, the United States is announcing devastating economic measures to ban new investment in Russia, and impose the most severe financial sanctions on Russia’s largest bank and several of its most critical state-owned enterprises and on Russian government officials and their family members. These sweeping financial sanctions follow our action earlier this week to cut off Russia’s frozen funds in the United States to make debt payments. Importantly, these measures are designed to reinforce each other to generate intensifying impact over time.

 

The United States and more than 30 allies and partners across the world have levied the most impactful, coordinated, and wide-ranging economic restrictions in history. Experts predict Russia’s GDP will contract up to 15 percent this year, wiping out the last fifteen years of economic gains. Inflation is already spiking above 15 percent and forecast to accelerate higher. More than 600 private sector companies have already left the Russian market. Supply chains in Russia have been severely disrupted. Russia will very likely lose its status as a major economy, and it will continue a long descent into economic, financial, and technological isolation. Compared to last year, U.S. exports to Russia of items subject to our new export controls have decreased 99 percent by value – and the power of these restrictions will compound over time as Russia draws down any remaining stockpiles of spare parts for certain planes, tanks, and other resources needed for Putin’s war machine.

 

As long as Russia continues its brutal assault on Ukraine, we will stand unified with our allies and partners in imposing additional costs on Russia for its actions. Today, the United States is announcing the following actions:

 

Full blocking sanctions on Russia’s largest financial institution, Sberbank, and Russia’s largest private bank, Alfa Bank. This action will freeze any of Sberbank’s and Alfa Bank’s assets touching the U.S financial system and prohibit U.S. persons from doing business with them. Sberbank holds nearly one-third of the overall Russian banking sector’s assets and is systemically critical to the Russian economy. Alfa Bank is Russia’s largest privately-owned financial institution and Russia’s fourth largest financial institution overall.

 

Prohibiting new investment in the Russian Federation. President Biden will sign a new Executive Order (E.O.) that includes a prohibition on new investment in Russia by U.S. persons wherever located, which will further isolate Russia from the global economy. This action builds on the decision made by more than 600 multinational businesses to exit from Russia. The exodus of the private sector includes manufacturers, energy companies, large retailers, financial institutions, as well as other service providers such as law and consulting firms. Today’s E.O. will ensure the enduring weakening of the Russian Federation’s global competitiveness.

 

Full blocking sanctions on critical major Russian state-owned enterprises. This will prohibit any U.S. person from transacting with these entities and freeze any of their assets subject to U.S. jurisdiction, thereby damaging the Kremlin’s ability to use these entities it depends on to enable and fund its war in Ukraine. The Department of Treasury will announce these entities tomorrow.

 

Full blocking sanctions on Russian elites and their family members, including sanctions on: President Putin’s adult children, Foreign Minister Lavrov’s wife and daughter, and members of Russia’s Security Council including former President and Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. These individuals have enriched themselves at the expense of the Russian people.  Some of them are responsible for providing the support necessary to underpin Putin’s war on Ukraine. This action cuts them off from the U.S. financial system and freezes any assets they hold in the United States.

 

The U.S. Treasury prohibited Russia from making debt payments with funds subject to U.S. jurisdiction. Sanctions do not preclude payments on Russian sovereign debt at this time, provided Russia uses funds outside of U.S. jurisdiction. However, Russia is a global financial pariah — and it will now need to choose between draining its available funds to make debt payments or default.

 

Commitment to supporting sectors essential to humanitarian activities. As we continue escalating our sanctions and other economic measures against Russia for its brutal war against Ukraine, we reiterate our commitment to exempting essential humanitarian and related activities that benefit the Russian people and people around the world: ensuring the availability of basic foodstuffs and agricultural commodities, safeguarding access to medicine and medical devices, and enabling telecommunications services to support the flow of information and access to the internet which provides outside perspectives to the Russian people. These activities are not the target of our efforts, and U.S. and Western companies can continue to operate in these sectors in Russia. When necessary, relevant departments and agencies will issue appropriate exemptions and carveouts to ensure such activity is not disrupted.

 

***

 

FACT SHEET: President Biden’s Plan to Respond to Putin’s Price Hike at the Pump

MARCH 31, 2022

 

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

Americans face rising prices at the pump because of Putin’s Price Hike.  Since Putin accelerated his military build-up around Ukraine, gas prices have increased by nearly a dollar per gallon.  Because of Putin’s war of choice, less oil is getting to market, and the reduction in supply is raising prices at the pump for Americans.  President Biden is committed to doing everything in his power to help American families who are paying more out of pocket as a result.  That is why today, President Biden will announce a two-part plan to ease the pain that families are feeling by increasing the supply of oil starting immediately and achieving lasting American energy independence that reduces demand for oil and bolsters our clean energy economy.

 

Immediately Increasing Supply

 

At the start of this year, gas was about $3.30 a gallon.  Today, it’s over $4.20, an increase of nearly $1.  And now, a significant amount of Russian oil is not making it to market.  The President banned the import of Russian oil – which Republicans and Democrats in Congress called for and supported.  It was the right thing to do.  But, as the President said, Russian oil coming off the global market would come with a cost, and Americans are seeing that at the pump.

 

The first part of the President’s plan is to immediately increase supply by doing everything we can to encourage domestic production now and through a historic release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to serve as a bridge to greater supply in the months ahead.

 

Increasing Domestic Production

 

The fact is that there is nothing standing in the way of domestic oil production. The United States is already approaching record levels of oil and natural gas production. There are oil companies that are doing the right thing and committing to ramp up production now.  Right now, domestic production is expected to increase by 1 million barrels per day this year and nearly 700,000 barrels per day next year.

 

Still, too many companies aren’t doing their part and are choosing to make extraordinary profits and without making additional investment to help with supply.  One CEO even acknowledged that, even if the price goes to $200 a barrel, they’re not going to step up production.

 

Right now, the oil and gas industry is sitting on more than 12 million acres of non-producing Federal land with 9,000 unused but already-approved permits for production. Today, President Biden is calling on Congress to make companies pay fees on wells from their leases that they haven’t used in years and on acres of public lands that they are hoarding without producing. Companies that are producing from their leased acres and existing wells will not face higher fees. But companies that continue to sit on non-producing acres will have to choose whether to start producing or pay a fee for each idled well and unused acre.

 

Historic Release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as a Bridge Through the Crisis

 

After consultation with allies and partners, the President will announce the largest release of oil reserves in history, putting one million additional barrels on the market per day on average – every day – for the next six months.  The scale of this release is unprecedented: the world has never had a release of oil reserves at this 1 million per day rate for this length of time. This record release will provide a historic amount of supply to serve as bridge until the end of the year when domestic production ramps up.

 

The Department of Energy will use the revenue from the release to restock the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in future years. This will provide a signal of future demand and help encourage domestic production today, and will ensure the continued readiness of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to respond to future emergencies.  

 

President Biden is coordinating this action with allies and partners around the world, and other countries are expected to join in this action, bringing the total release to well over an average 1 million barrels per day.

 

Achieving Real American Energy Independence

 

The United States is the largest oil producer in the world and is a net energy exporter.  Despite that, the actions of a dictator half a world away can still impact American families’ pocketbooks. The President will announce his commitment to achieving real energy independence – which centers on reducing our dependence on oil altogether.

 

The President will call on Congress to pass his plan to speed the transition to clean energy that is made in America.  His plan will help ensure that America creates millions of good-paying union jobs in clean, cutting-edge industries for generations to come. And it will save American families money in theimmediate future – including more than $950 a year in gas savings from taking advantage of electric vehicles, and an additional $500 a year from using clean electricity like solar and heat pumps to power their homes.   

 

And, the President will issue a directive, authorizing the use of the Defense Production Act to secure American production of critical materials to bolster our clean energy economy by reducing our reliance on China and other countries for the minerals and materials that will power our clean energy future.  Specifically, the DPA will be authorized to support the production and processing of minerals and materials used for large capacity batteries–such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and manganese—and the Department of Defense will implement this authority using strong environmental, labor, community, and tribal consultation standards. The sectors supported by these large capacity batteries—transportation and the power sector—account for more than half of our nation’s carbon emissions.  The President is also reviewing potential further uses of DPA – in addition to minerals and materials – to secure safer, cleaner, and more resilient energy for America.

 

This week alone, President Biden announced historic efforts to increase energy efficiency and lower costs for consumers.  The Department of Energy opened applications for more than $3 billion in new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding—ten times the historical funding levels of the Weatherization Assistance Program—for energy efficiency and electrification upgrades in thousands of homes that will save families hundreds of dollars on utility bills.  The Administration also advanced smart standards that will lower consumer costs, including a roadmap of 100 actions this year that will save families $100 annually through more efficient home appliances and equipment, as well as new fuel economy standards for cars and trucks to save drivers money at the pump.  And the Administration is seeking additional opportunities to ramp up the deployment of heat pumps to displace fuel burned in buildings, as well as programs to drive efficiency, electrification, and use of clean fuels in the industrial sector.

 

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Readout of President Biden’s Call with President Zelensky of Ukraine

MARCH 30, 2022

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

President Biden spoke today with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine about the ongoing work by the United States and its allies and partners to deliver military, economic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and to impose severe costs on Russia for its brutal aggression against Ukraine. The leaders discussed how the United States is working around the clock to fulfill the main security assistance requests by Ukraine, the critical effects those weapons have had on the conflict, and continued efforts by the United States with allies and partners to identify additional capabilities to help the Ukrainian military defend its country. In addition, President Biden informed President Zelenskyy that the United States intends to provide the Ukrainian government with $500 million in direct budgetary aid. He also reviewed the additional sanctions and humanitarian assistance announced last week. President Zelenskyy updated President Biden on the status of Ukraine’s negotiations with Russia.

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President Biden Delivers Remarks on the United Efforts to Support the People of Ukraine

The Royal Castle in Warsaw

Warsaw, Poland

MARCH 26, 2022

 

 

 

6:16 P.M. CET

 

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Please, if you have a seat, be seated.  (Laughter.)  If you don’t, come up on stage.

 

Thank you very much.  It’s a great honor to be here.  Mr. President, they tell me you’re over there somewhere.  There you are.  Thank you, Mr. President.

 

“Be not afraid.”  They were the first words at the first public address of the first Polish Pope after his election on October of 1978.  They were words that would come to define Pope John Paul II.  Words that would change the world.

 

John Paul brought the message here to Warsaw in his first trip back home as Pope in June of 1979.  It was a message about the power — the power of faith, the power of resilience, and the power of the people.

 

In the face of a cruel and brutal system of government, it was a message that helped end the Soviet repression in the Central land and Eastern Europe 30 years ago.  It was a message that will overcome the cruelty and brutality of this unjust war.

 

When Pope John Paul brought that message in 1979, the Soviet Union ruled with an iron fist behind an Iron Curtain.

 

Then a year later, the Solidarity movement took hold in Poland.  And while I know he couldn’t be here tonight, we’re all grateful in America and around the world for Lech Walesa.  (Applause.)

 

It reminds me of that phrase of philosopher Kierkegaard: “[F]aith sees best in the dark.”  And there were dark moments.

 

Ten years later, the Soviet Union collapsed, and Poland and Central and Eastern Europe would soon be free.  Nothing about that battle for freedom was simple or easy.  It was a long, painful slog fought over not days and months, but years and decades.

 

But we emerged anew in the great battle for freedom: a battle between democracy and autocracy, between liberty and repression, between a rules-based order and one governed by brute force.

 

In this battle, we need to be clear-eyed.  This battle will not be won in days or months either.  We need to steel ourselves for the long fight ahead.

 

Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. Mayor, members of the Parliament, distinguished guests, and the people of Poland, and I suspect some people of Ukraine that are here: We’re — (applause) — we are gathered here at the Royal Castle in this city that holds a sacred place in the history of not only of Europe, but humankind’s unending search for freedom.

 

For generations, Warsaw has stood where liberty has been challenged and liberty has prevailed.

 

In fact, it was here in Warsaw when a young refugee, who fled her home country from Czechoslovakia was under Soviet domination, came back to speak and stand in solidarity with dissidents.

 

Her name was Madeleine Korbel Albright.  She became — (applause) — one of the most ardent supporters of democracy in the world.  She was a friend with whom I served.  America’s first woman Secretary of State.  She passed away three days ago.

 

She fought her whole life for essential democratic principles.  And now, in the perennial struggle for democracy and freedom, Ukraine and its people are on the frontlines fighting to save their nation.

 

And their brave resistance is part of a larger fight for an essential democratic principles that unite all free people: the rule of law; free and fair elections; the freedom to speak, to write, and to assemble; the freedom to worship as one chooses; freedom of the press.

 

These principles are essential in a free society.  (Applause.)  But they have always — they have always been under siege.  They’ve always been embattled.  Every generation has had to defeat democracy’s mortal foes.  That’s the way of the world — for the world is imperfect, as we know.  Where the appetites and ambitions of a few forever seek to dominate the lives and liberties of many.

 

My message to the people of Ukraine is the message I delivered today to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister and Defense Minister, who I believe are here tonight: We stand with you.  Period.  (Applause.)

 

Today’s fighting in Kyiv and Mariupol and Kharkiv are the latest battle in a long struggle: Hungary, 1956; Poland, 1956 then again 1981; Czechoslovakia, 1968.

 

Soviet tanks crushed democratic uprisings, but the resistance continued until finally, in 1989, the Berlin Wall and all of the walls of Soviet domination — they fell.  They fell.  And the people prevailed.  (Applause.)

 

But the battle for democracy could not conclude and did not conclude with the end of the Cold War.

 

Over the last 30 years, the forces of autocracy have revived all across the globe.  Its hallmarks are familiar ones: contempt for the rule of law, contempt for democratic freedom, contempt for the truth itself.

 

Today, Russia has strangled democracy — has sought to do so elsewhere, not only in its homeland.  Under false claims of ethnic solidarity, it has invalidated [invaded] neighboring nations.

 

Putin has the gall to say he’s “de-Nazifying” Ukraine.  It’s a lie.  It’s just cynical.  He knows that.  And it’s also obscene.

 

President Zelenskyy was democratically elected.  He’s Jewish.  His father’s family was wiped out in the Nazi Holocaust.  And Putin has the audacity, like all autocrats before him, to believe that might will make right.

 

In my own country, a former president named Abraham Lincoln voiced the opposing spirit to save our Union in the midst of a civil war.  He said, “Let us have faith that right makes might.”  “Right makes might.”  (Applause.)

 

Today, let us now have that faith again.  Let us resolve to put the strength of democracies into action to thwart the denigns [sic] of our — the designs of autocracy.  Let us remember that the test of this moment is the test of all time.

 

The Kremlin wants to portray NATO enlargement as an imperial project aimed at destabilizing Russia.  Nothing is further from the truth.  NATO is a defensive alliance.  It has never sought the demise of Russia.

 

In the lead-up to the current crisis, the United States and NATO worked for months to engage Russia to avert a war.  I met with him in person and talked to him many times on the phone.

 

Time and again, we offered real diplomacy and concrete proposals to strengthen European security, enhance transparency, and build confidence on all sides.

 

But Putin and Russia met each of the proposals with disinterest in any negotiation, with lies and ultimatums.  Russia was bent on violence from the start.

 

I know not all of you believed me and us when we kept saying, “They are going to cross the border.  They are going to attack.”

 

Repeatedly, he asserted, “We have no interest in war.”  Guaranteed he would not move.

 

Repeatedly saying he would not invade Ukraine.

 

Repeatedly saying Russian troops along the border were there for “training” — all 180,000 of them.

 

There is simply no justification or provocation for Russia’s choice of war.  It’s an example of one of the oldest of human impulses: using brute force and disinformation to satisfy a craving for absolute power and control.

 

It’s nothing less than a direct challenge to the rule-based international order established since the end of World War Two.

 

And it threatens to return to decades of war that ravaged Europe before the international rule-based order was put in place.  We cannot go back to that.  We cannot.   

 

The gravity of the threat is why the response of the West has been so swift and so powerful and so unified, unprecedented, and overwhelming.

 

Swift and punishing costs are the only things that are going to get Russia to change its course.

 

Within days of its invasion, the West had moved jointly with sanctions to damage Russia’s economy.

 

Russia’s Central Bank is now blocked from the global financial systems, denying Kremlin’s access to the war fund it stashed around the globe.

 

We’ve aimed at the heart of Russia’s economy by stopping the imports of Russian energy to the United States.

 

To date, the United States has sanctioned 140 Russian oligarchs and their family members, seizing their ill-begotten gains: their yachts, their luxury apartments, their mansions.

 

We’ve sanctioned more than 400 Russian government officials, including key architects of this war.

 

These officials and oligarchs have reaped enormous benefit from the corruption connected to the Kremlin, and now they have to share in the pain.

 

The private sector is acting as well.  Over 400 private multinational companies have pulled out of doing business in Russia — left Russia completely — from oil companies to McDonald’s.  

 

As a result of these unprecedented sanctions, the ruble almost is immediately reduced to rubble.  The Russian economy — (applause) — that’s true, by the way.  It takes about 200 rubles to equal one dollar.

 

The economy is on track to be cut in half in the coming years.  It was ranked — Russia’s economy was ranked the 11th biggest economy in the world before this evasion [sic] — invasion.  It will soon not even rank among the top 20 in the world.  (Applause.)

 

Taken together, these economic sanctions are a new kind of economic statecraft with the power to inflict damage that rivals military might.

 

These international sanctions are sapping Russian strength, its ability to replenish its military, and its ability — its ability to project power.  And it is Putin — it is Vladimir Putin who is to blame, period.   

 

At the same time, alongside these economic sanctions, the Western world has come together to provide for the people of Ukraine with incredible levels of military, economic, and humanitarian assistance.

 

In the years before the invasion, we, America, had sent over $650 million, before they crossed the border, in weapons to Ukraine, including anti-air and anti-armor equipment.

 

Since the invasion, America has committed another $1.35 billion in weapons and ammunition.

 

And thanks to the courage and bravery of the Ukrainian people — (applause) — the equipment we’ve sent and our colleagues have sent have been used to devastating effect to defend Ukrainian land and airspace.  Our Allies and partners have stepped up as well.

 

But as I’ve made clear: American forces are in Europe — not in Europe to engage in conflict with Russian forces.  American forces are here to defend NATO Allies.

 

Yesterday, I met with the troops that are serving alongside our Polish allies to bolster NATO’s frontline defenses.  The reason we wanted to make clear is their movement on Ukraine: Don’t even think about moving on one single inch of NATO territory.

 

We have a sacred obligation — (applause) — we have a sacred obligation under Article 5 to defend each and every inch of NATO territory with the full force of our collective power.

 

And earlier today, I visited your National Stadium, where thousands of Ukrainian refugees are now trying to answer the toughest questions a human can ask: “My God, what’s going to happen to me?  What’s going to happen to my family?”

 

I saw tears in many of the mothers’ eyes as I embraced them; their young children — their young children not sure whether to smile or cry.  One little girl said, “Mr. President” — she spoke a little English — “is my brother and my daddy — are they going to be okay?  Will I see them again?”  Without their husbands, their fathers, in many cases, their brothers or sisters who stayed back to fight for their country.

 

I didn’t have to speak the language or understand the language to feel the emotion in their eyes, the way they gripped my hand, and little kids hung on to my leg, praying with a desperate hope that all this is temporary; apprehension that they may be perhaps forever away from their homes, almost with debilitating sadness that this is happening all over again.

 

But I was also struck by the generosity of the people of Warsaw — for that matter, all the Polish people — for the depths of their compassion, their willingness to reach out — (applause) — opening their hearts.

 

I was saying to the Mayor they’re preparing to open their hearts and their homes simply to help.  I also want to thank my friend, the great American chef, José Andrés, and his team who helped feeling [sic] those — (applause) — feeding those who are yearning to be free.

 

But helping these refugees is not something Poland or any other nation should carry alone.  All the world democracies have a responsibility to help.  All of them.  And the people of Ukraine can count on the United States to meet its responsibility.

 

I’ve announced, two days ago, we will welcome 100,000 Ukrainian refugees.  We already have 8,000 a week coming to the United States of other nat- — nationalities.

 

We’ll provide nearly $300 million of humanitarian assistance, providing tens of thousands of tons of food, water, medicine, and other basic supplies.

 

In Brussels, I announced the United States is prepared to provide more than $1 billion, in addition, in humanitarian aid.

 

The World Food Programme told us that despite significant obstacles, at least some relief is getting to major cities in Ukraine, but not Metropol [sic] — no, excuse me, Mar- — not Mariupol, because Russian forces are blocking relief supplies.

 

But we’ll not cease our efforts to get humanitarian relief wherever it is needed in Ukraine and for the people who’ve made it out of Ukraine.

 

Notwithstanding the brutality of Vladimir Putin, let there be no doubt that this war has already been a strategic failure for Russia already.  (Applause.)  Having lost children myself — I know that’s no solace to the people who’ve lost family.  

 

But he, Putin, thought Ukrainians would roll over and not fight.  Not much of a student of history.  Instead, Russian forces have met their match with brave and stiff Ukrainian resistance.

 

Rather than breaking Ukrainian resolve, Russia’s brutal tactics have strengthened the resolve.  (Applause.)

 

Rather than driving NATO apart, the West is now stronger and more united than it has ever been.  (Applause.)

 

Russia wanted less of a NATO presence on its border, but now he has [we have] a stronger presence, a larger presence, with over a hundred thousand American troops here, along with all the other members of NATO.

 

In fact — (applause) — Russia has managed to cause something I’m sure he never intended: The democracies of the world are revitalized with purpose and unity found in months that we’d once taken years to accomplish.

 

It’s not only Russia’s actions in Ukraine that are reminding us of democracy’s blessing.  It’s our own country — his own country, the Kremlin, is jailing protestors.  Two hundred thousand people have allegedly already left.  There’s a brain drain — leaving Russia.  Shutting down independent news.  State media is all propaganda, blocking the image of civilian targets, mass graves, starvation tactics of the Russian forces in Ukraine.  

 

Is it any wonder, as I said, that 200,000 Russians have all left their country in one month?  A remarkable brain drain in such a short period of time, which brings me to my message to the Russian people:

 

I’ve worked with Russian leaders for decades.  I sat across the negotiating table going all the way back to Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin to talk arms control at the height of the Cold War.

 

I’ve always spoken directly and honestly to you, the Russian people.

 

Let me say this, if you’re able to listen: You, the Russian people, are not our enemy.

 

I refuse to believe that you welcome the killing of innocent children and grandparents or that you accept hospitals, schools, maternity wards that, for God’s sake, are being pummeled with Russian missiles and bombs; or cities being surrounded so that civilians cannot flee; supplies cut off and attempting to starve Ukrainians into submission.

 

Millions of families are being driven from their homes, including half of all Ukraine’s children.  These are not the actions of a great nation.

 

Of all people, you, the Russian people, as well as all people across Europe, still have the memory of being in a similar situation in the late thirties and forties — the situation of World War Two — still fresh in the minds of many grandparents in the region.

 

What — whatever your generation experienced — whether it experienced the Siege of Leningrad or heard about it from your parents and grandparents — train stations overflowing with terrified families fleeing their homes; nights sheltering in basements and cellars; mornings sitting through the rubble in your homes — these are not memories of the past.  Not anymore.  Because it’s exactly what the Russian army is doing in Ukraine right now.

 

March 26, 2022.  Just days before — we’re at the twenty-fir- — you were a 21st century nation with hopes and dreams that people all over the world have for themselves and their family.

 

Now, Vladimir Putin’s aggression have cut you, the Russian people, off from the rest of the world, and it’s taking Russia back to the 19th century.

 

This is not who you are.  This is not the future reserve — you deserve for your families and your children.  I’m telling you the truth: This war is not worthy of you, the Russian people.

 

Putin can and must end this war.  The American people stand with you and the brave citizens of Ukraine who want peace.

 

And my message to the rest of Europe: This new battle for freedom has already made a few things crystal clear.

 

First, Europe must end its dependence on Russian fossil fuels.  And we, the United States, will help.  (Applause.)  That’s why just yesterday, in Brussels, I announced a plan with the President of the European Commission to get Europe through the immediate energy crisis.

 

Over the long term, as a matter of economic security and national security and for the survivability of the planet, we all need to move as quickly as possible to clean, renewable energy.  And we’ll work together to help get that done so that the days of any nation being subject to the whims of a tyrant for its energy needs are over.  They must end.  They must end.  

 

And second, we have to fight the corruption coming from the Kremlin to give the Russian people a fair chance.

 

And finally, and most urgently, we maintain absolute unity — we must — among the world’s democracies.

 

It’s not enough to speak with rhetorical flourish, of ennobling words of democracy, of freedom, equality, and liberty.  All of us, including here in Poland, must do the hard work of democracy each and every day.  My country as well.  

 

That’s why — (applause) — that’s why I came to Europe again this week with a clear and determined message for NATO, for the G7, for the European Union, for all freedom-loving nations: We must commit now to be in this fight for the long haul.  We must remain unified today and tomorrow and the day after and for the years and decades to come.  (Applause.)

 

It will not be easy.  There will be costs.  But it’s a price we have to pay.  Because the darkness that drives autocracy is ultimately no match for the flame of liberty that lights the souls of free people everywhere.

 

Time and again, history shows that it’s from the darkest moments that the greatest progress follows.  And history shows this is the task of our time, the task of this generation.

 

Let’s remember: The hammer blow that brought down the Berlin Wall, the might that lifted the Iron Curtain were not the words of a single leader; it was the people of Europe who, for decades, fought to free themselves.

 

Their sheer bravery opened the border between Austria and Hungary for the Pan-European Picnic.  They joined hands for the Baltic Way.  They stood for Solidarity here in Poland.  And together, it was an unmistakable and undeniable force of the people that the Soviet Union could not withstand.

 

And we’re seeing it once again today with the brave Ukrainian people, showing that their power of many is greater than the will of any one dictator.  (Applause.)

 

So, in this hour, let the words of Pope John Paul burn as brightly today: “Never, ever give up hope, never doubt, never tire, never become discouraged.  Be not afraid.”  (Applause.)

 

A dictator bent on rebuilding an empire will never erase a people’s love for liberty.  Brutality will never grind down their will to be free.  Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia — for free people refuse to live in a world of hopelessness and darkness.

 

We will have a different future — a brighter future rooted in democracy and principle, hope and light, of decency and dignity, of freedom and possibilities.

 

For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.

 

God bless you all.  And may God defend our freedom.  (Applause.)  And may God protect our troops.   Thank you for your patience.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you.  

 

6:43 P.M. CET

 

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Remarks by President Biden After Meeting With Ukrainian Refugees

MARCH 26, 2022

 

PGE Narodowy Stadium

Warsaw, Poland

 

 

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

3:28 P.M. CET

 

Q    Mr. President, what do you think about Russia changing its strategy?

 

THE PRESIDENT:  I’m not sure they have.

 

Q    And what’s the impact of this on you, Mr. President?  Tell us about what you saw.

 

THE PRESIDENT:  I’ve been to an awful lot of places like this with a lot of refugee camps in my life.  And what I — what I never — I’m always surprised by is the depth and strength of the human spirit.  I mean it sincerely.  And it’s incredible.  It’s incredible.

 

You see all those little children?  Just wanted to — just want a hug.  They just want to say thanks.  I mean, they’re — I mean, it’s — it just makes you so damn proud.  And they’re wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

 

And, you know, the Ukrainian people are — each one of those children said something to the effect, “Say a prayer for my dad, for my grandfather, for my brother who’s back there fighting.”  And I remember what it’s like when you have someone in a war zone.  Every morning you get up and you wonder.  You just wonder.  You pray you don’t get that phone call.  And they’re an amazing group of people.

 

Q    How does this make you think of —

 

Q    How do you get into some of these cities like Mariupol that’s got — you know, that’s got nothing?

 

THE PRESIDENT:  Oh, they’ve got nothing.  I met two people from Mariupol.  It’s — it’s astounding.

 

Q    What were the commitments with Ukraine?

 

Q    What is this — I mean, you see this in your — you know, you’re dealing every day with Vladimir Putin.  I mean, look at what he’s done to these people.  What does it make you think?

 

THE PRESIDENT:  He’s a butcher.  That’s what it makes me think.

 

3:29 P.M. CET

 

Readout of President Biden’s Meeting with President Andrzej Duda of Poland

MARCH 26, 2022

 

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

 

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., met today with President Andrzej Duda of Poland in Warsaw. The leaders discussed ongoing international efforts to impose powerful sanctions on Russia for its unjustified and unprovoked attack on Ukraine. They also discussed their shared commitment to continue supporting the government and people of Ukraine. President Biden thanked President Duda and the people of Poland for opening their homes and hearts to their neighbors in need, and he pledged continued U.S. support to these humanitarian assistance efforts. President Biden underscored the United States’ unwavering commitment to Article 5 and to the security of all our NATO allies. In addition, the leaders discussed our robust bilateral defense cooperation, US support for Europe’s efforts to reduce its reliance on Russian energy and to meet our climate goals, and the democratic values on which the transatlantic relationship is based.

 

Remarks by President Biden and President Andrzej Duda of Poland Before Expanded Bilateral Meeting

MARCH 26, 2022

 

SPEECHES AND REMARKS

Presidential Palace

Warsaw, Poland

 

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

 

1:44 P.M. CET

 

PRESIDENT DUDA:  Excellency Mr. President, distinguished members of the American delegation: I am delighted, and it is an immensely important moment to us to host you here, Mr. President, the President of the United States of America, along with the members of your delegation — to host you here in Poland, in Warsaw, in this time so immensely important for the whole world.  Thank you so much.

 

That — this presence shows in such an excellent way, but also strengthens the fact of extremely strong Euro-Atlantic ties.  It also demonstrates the unity of the North Atlantic Alliance and the traditional cooperation in the military sphere, in the economic sphere, and also in the political sphere between the United States of America and Poland.

 

Thank you, Mr. President.  We are grateful for your yesterday’s visit to Rzeszów, which is of extremely symbolic character to all of us.  But it is also of key importance for all of those who are helping and assisting refugees from Ukraine on a daily basis.  

 

Poles, guests from other countries, our volunteers, foreign volunteers — they are dedicating themselves; they are sacrificing their time, offering all the means and measures in order to help people.

 

So, thank you, Mr. President, so much for paying that visit yesterday.  It is hugely important.

 

And also, thank you for all the help and assistance provided by the United States.  Thank you for the contribution of the First Lady of the United States, Mrs. Jill Biden.  Thank you for her consultations with my wife, for the assistance, and for an excellent atmosphere that you, Mr. President, and your wife create for all our matters in the United States.  My wife recently visited New York, and she felt that great atmosphere.  So, thank you so much.

 

But let me stress — and very strongly, Mr. President — that although times are very difficult, today, Polish-American relations are flourishing.

 

We are the first, the biggest customer buying American LNG gas.  We have received LNG gas for many years.  Our gas terminal in Swinoujscie, it helps us to diversify our gas resources in Poland.  It is hugely important, given today’s Russia’s aggression Ukraine, given this energy blackmail which Russia has pursued for many years right now.  We have built that LNG terminal in Swinoujscie precisely to fight this blackmail, to avoid this blackmail.  And we are thankful for U.S. support in this respect.

 

Furthermore, we are grateful for continuing on this path.  We started a program on civil nuclear energy — the construction of U.S. nuclear power plants in Poland, which are indispensable to us to protect the climate and to develop a modern energy sector in our country.

 

I strongly believe that this partnership that we have between the United States and Poland in the development of nuclear energy in our country, in close cooperation between our two states, will be implemented and finalized.

 

I have here with me Minister Piotr Naimski who is responsible on the Polish side for this program.  And I do believe that along with American companies, but under a strong patronage of the White House, we will be able to successfully implement in the near future, because Poland badly needs it.

 

Mr. President, we have very good economic relations.  We have got — in 2021, according to our estimates, we had more than 18 billion U.S. dollars of trade volume, despite the coronavirus pandemic, despite other obstacles that were in the way.  This, it makes us really pleased.  We’re happy with all the U.S. investments in Poland.  We are happy to welcome them here, just as we are happy to welcome U.S. soldiers who are coming up to us in order to strengthen the eastern flank.  We are grateful for this help.

 

But let me also stress, Mr. President: We are a serious partner.  We are a credible ally.  We do everything we can in order to live up to the task of defending our country ourselves.  That is why we adopted a new bill, the Act on Defense of the Republic of Poland, and that is why as early as next year we will start to allocate 3 percent of our GDP on defense.  That is why I want to, and we want to, increase those spendings also in the years to come.

 

We want to equip our armed forces with modern equipment, and that is why, in the future, we want — we intend to buy well-tested and modern military equipment that is produced in the United States of America.

 

But, of course, we would be very much interested in establishing a cooperation with the United States in this respect.  And we are delighted with every element of this cooperation that is developing, such as the possibility to co-produce, in Poland, Black Hawks.  And right now, we would like to have more forms of such cooperation also in the military sphere.

 

So, Mr. President, all the bonds that I mentioned, all of that is strengthened immensely by your visit, Mr. President, and we’re so much grateful for that.

 

This is also important for the representatives of the U.S. business circles.  Wherever you can, Mr. President, they feel that this place is safe and secure.  So, Mr. President, we are so much grateful for your visit.

 

But let me stress one thing, sir: This is a very difficult situation, what is happening in Ukraine right now — this Russian aggression and this huge tragedy of the Ukrainian people.  All of us, together, are experiencing it with them.  And this also creates a great sense of threat for my compatriots, for the Polish people, because we know what Russian imperialism stands for, and we know what it means to be attacked by Russian armed forces, because our grandfathers and great-grandfathers experienced that; sometimes even our parents experienced that.

 

So, thank you for your presence.  And thank you, first and foremost, for your incredible leadership, strong leadership.  Thank you for this very strong voice of the United States which leads us and which very resolutely calls on Russia to stop its aggression against Ukraine.

 

We stand with the United States.  And along with the United States, we want to pursue this policy.  And we very much hope for decisive and strong leadership of the United States across the entire NATO.

 

And also, we hope that we will further strengthen the Euro-Atlantic bond.  Thank you, Mr. President, once again for your presence.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Mr. President, thank you very much.  Twenty-five years ago, when I spoke at a university here in Warsaw, after having led the effort for Poland to join NATO, I used the phrase — and my Ambassador reminded me of this — I said — started off by saying, “For your freedom and for ours.”  “For your freedom and for ours.”  I meant it then, and I mean it now.

 

You know, Mr. President, we have — the most important thing that binds us together are our values: freedom — freedom of the press; making sure that people are — that government is transparent; making sure people have the right to vote, et cetera.

 

And I — we had a very — and I hope we haven’t kept you waiting.  It’s good to be back in this room again, but I hope we didn’t keep you waiting too long.  But we were discussing a lot of things in private, not the least of which was that, as I pointed out — and my colleagues, I’m confident, agree with me — is that America’s ability to meet its role in other parts of the world rests upon a united Europe and a secure Europe.

 

We have learned from sad experience in two world wars: When we’ve stayed out of and not been involved in stability in Europe, it always comes back to haunt us, the United States.  

 

So I’ve been saying for a long time — as a senator who visited here and a member the Foreign Relations Committee, as Vice President for eight years, now as President — that stability in Europe is critically important to the United States in terms of our interest not only in Europe, but around the world.

 

And so, what we talked about is the need for us to stay in constant contact and know what one another are doing.  The United States and my colleagues on this side of the table heard me say it many, many times: We take Article 5 as a sacred commitment, not a throwaway — a sacred commitment that relates to every member of NATO.

 

One of the things that I thanked the President for downstairs was the fact that the single-most important criterion in this time of a changing world — so much has changed, and not just here but in other parts of the world — is that NATO stay absolutely, completely, thoroughly united; that there be no separation in our points of view; that whatever we do, we do in unison; and everyone — everyone comes along.

 

I’m confident that Vladimir Putin was counting on being able to divide NATO, to be able to separate the eastern flank from the West, be able to separate nations based on past histories.  But he hasn’t been able to do it.  We’ve all stayed together.  And — and so, I just think it’s so important that we — Poland and the United States — keep in lockstep in how we’re proceeding.

 

And also, we do acknowledge that Poland is taking on a significant responsibility that I don’t think should just be Poland, it should be the whole world — all of NATO’s responsibility.  

 

The fact that you have so many — so many Ukrainians seeking refuge in the — in this country of Poland, we understand that because we have, in our southern border, thousands of people a day — literally, not figuratively — trying to get into the United States.  But we believe that we, the United States, should do our part, relative to Ukraine as well, by opening our borders to another hundred thousand people.

 

And — but that’s — and in addition to that, I think it’s important that we are in constant contact as about how we each wish to proceed, relative to what Russia is doing, and how to proceed.

 

And so, I — I just want to thank you, Mr. President, for being available, for being so cooperative, for being — and letting us know exactly what’s on your mind.  It’s on the mind of the Polish people — what their concerns are and what they think our responsibilities are.

 

But I’ll end where I began, and that is: We take as a sacred obligation Article 5 — a sacred obligation, Article 5.  And you can count on that.  And not just — I’ll end where I began: for your freedom is ours.  

 

So, thank you very much.

 

1:57 P.M. CET

 


 

Readout of President Biden’s Meeting with Foreign Minister Kuleba and Defense Minister Reznikov of Ukraine

 

MARCH 26, 2022

 

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov for an update on Ukraine’s military, diplomatic, and humanitarian situation. The President updated the Ministers on U.S. efforts to rally the world in support of Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression, including through the President’s meetings this week in Belgium, and the significant military and humanitarian assistance the United States is providing to Ukraine. They discussed further efforts to help Ukraine defend its territory. They also discussed the United States’ ongoing actions to hold President Putin accountable for Russia’s brutal aggression, in coordination with our allies and partners, including through the new sanctions actions announced by the President in Brussels on March 24.

 

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Remarks by President Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Joint Press Statement

MARCH 25, 2022

10:05 A.M. CET

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Good morning.  Today I’m proud to once again be standing together with President von der Leyen as we announce a new groundbreaking initiative between the European Union and the United States.

 

First, we’re coming together to reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian energy.  Putin has issued Russia’s energy resources to coerce and manipulate its neighbors.  That’s how he’s used it.  He’s used the profits to drive his war machine.

 

And that’s why, earlier this month, I announced the United States would ban all imports of Russian energy to make it clear that the American people would not be part of subsidizing Putin’s brutal, unjustified war against the people of Ukraine.

 

At the time, I noted that we were able to take those steps when others could not because the United States is a net energy exporter of energy, with a strong domestic industry.

 

And the United States welcomed the European Union’s powerful statement earlier this month committing to rapidly reduce its dependence on Russian gas.

 

Today we’ve agreed on a joint game plan toward that goal while accelerating our progress toward a secure clean energy future.

 

This initiative focuses on two core issues: One, helping Europe reduce its dependency on Russian gas as quickly as possible.  And, secondly, reducing Europe’s demand for gas overall.

 

To address the first point, the United States, together with our international partners, they’re going to — we’re going to work to ensure an additional 15 — one-five — 15 billion cubic meters of liquified natural gas — LNG — for Europe this year.

 

And as the EU works to discontinue buying Russian gas well before 2030, it will also work to ensure additional EU market demand for 50 billion cubic meters of LNG from the United States annually by 2030.

 

To accomplish this, the European Commission is going to work with the member states to store gas across the continent, to build more infrastructure to receive LNG, and to take steps to increase the efficiency of gas.

 

This build-out — this build-out will occur in a way that consists — is consistent with, not in conflict with, the zero — net-zero climate goal we — that we’re shooting for.  It’s going to take some time to adjust gas supply chains and infrastructure as is built the last decade — for the last decade.

 

So we’re going to have to make sure the families in Europe can get through this winter and the next while we’re building an infrastructure for a diversified, resilient, and clean energy future.

 

At the same time, this crisis also presents an opportunity.  It’s a catalyst — a catalyst that will drive the investments we need to double-down on our clean energy goals and accelerate progress toward our net-zero emissions future.

 

That’s what the second part of this initiative is all about.

 

The United States and the European Union are going to work together to take concrete measures to reduce dependence on natural gas — period — and to maximize the available — the avail- — the availability and use of renewable energy.    

 

We’re going to accelerate widespread adoption of energy-efficient technologies and equipment, like smart thermostats, the work — that work to — and work to electrify heating systems all across Europe.

 

We’re going to invest in innovative solutions and technologies to make the switch from fossil fuels.

 

And together, we’ll advance the use of clean and renewable hydrogen to reduce our carbon emissions.

 

This — these steps will increase energy security, economic security, and national security.

 

And we’re going to stand up a joint task force to implement these changes and drive progress that will be co-chaired by representatives from the White House and the President of the European Union’s team — Commission’s team.

 

Madam President, I know — I know that eliminating Russian gas will have costs for Europe.  But it’s not only the right thing to do from a moral standpoint, it’s going to put us on a much stronger strategic footing.

 

And I’m proud to announce that we’ve also reached another major breakthrough in transatlantic data flows.  Privacy and security are key elements of my digital agenda.

 

And today, we’ve agreed to unprecedented protections for data privacy and security for our citizens.

 

This new agreement will enhance the Privacy Shield Framework; promote growth and innovation in Europe and the United States; and help companies, both small and large, compete in the digital economy.

 

Just as we did when we resolved the Boeing-Airbus dispute and lifted the steel and aluminum tariffs, the United States and the EU are finding creative, new approaches to knit our economies and our people closer together, grounded on shared values.

 

This framework underscores our shared commitment to privacy, to data protection, and to the rule of law.  And it’s going to allow the European Commission to once again authorize

transatlantic data flows that help facilitate $7.1 trillion in economic relationships with the EU.

 

So thank you again, Madam President, for your personal friendship, for your partnership, and above all, your leadership.

 

All of this is bringing the European Union and the United States even closer together, and that’s a win for all of us.

 

So I thank you all, and I’m now going to yield the podium to the President.

 

Let me pull this out.  (Pulls out the step stool.)  Got to earn my salary here.  (Laughter.)  Is it out enough?  There you go.  Thank you.  (Laughs.)

 

PRESIDENT VON DER LEYEN:  Thank you.  Mr. President, Dear Joe, your presence here in Brussels this week — at the NATO summit, at the G7, and at our European Council — sends a very powerful message to the world.

 

The transatlantic partnership stands stronger and more united than ever.  And we are determined to stand up against Russia’s brutal war.  This war will be a strategic failure for Putin.

 

Our cooperation on the four successive waves of sanctions against Russia has been extraordinary and exceptional.  The sanctions are now working their way deep into the Russian system, draining Putin’s resources to finance this atrocious war.

 

Our work on sanctions also shows that when we act together, we’re stronger and we really can make a difference.

 

And we are continuing to reinforce our cooperation in many strategic ways: on humanitarian and security assistance to Ukraine; on energy; on fighting the threats against our democracies; on solving outstanding issues in the EU-U.S. cooperation, including in data protec- — protection and privacy.

 

In a world faced with disorder, our transatlantic unity upholds fundamental values and rules that our citizens believe in.  Let me focus first on refugees.

 

Until now, around three and a half million people have left Ukraine, half of them children.  Every second refugee is a child.  And the numbers will keep rising.  So, together, we are mobilizing massive resources to support those displaced by the conflict, be it in Ukraine or in the neighboring countries.

 

Just this week, for example, I announced that the European Union will allocate an extra 3.4 billion euros for this purpose, and more will come.  This demonstrates our deep support for Ukraine and its citizens.

 

And I want to tell the American people how grateful Europe is for their unwavering support.  This support also extends to strengthening Europe’s energy security and independence from Russian fossil fuels.  As you know, we aim to reduce this dependency on Russian fossil fuels and to get rid of it.  And this can only be achieved through, of course, first of all, investment in renewables, but also through additional gas supplies, including LNG deliveries.

 

So we want, as Europeans, to diversify away from Russia, towards suppliers that we trust, that are friends, and that are reliable.

 

And therefore, the U.S. commitment to provide the European Union with additional at least 15 billion cubic meters of LNG this year is a big step in this direction because this will replace the LNG supply we currently receive from Russia.

 

And looking ahead, the United States and Europe will ensure stable demand and supply for additional at least 50 billion cubic meter of U.S. LNG until 2030.  And if we look at that, this amount, 50 bcm per year, is replacing one third already of the Russian gas going to Europe today.  So, we are right in — on track now to diversify away from Russian gas and towards our friends’ and partners’ reliable and trustworthy suppliers.

 

We need to secure our supplies not just for next winter but also for the years ahead.  And this is a — an important, a big starting point to do that.

 

Our partnership aims to sustain us through this war, to work on our independence from Russian fossil fuels, but it also focuses on building a greener future with climate neutrality.  We will work together also with our energy-intensive industry.  And the good news is that the infrastructure that we use for gas today can be used for clean hydrogen in the future.  So, this investment we are doing right now is also an investment in the decarbonizing of our economy.

 

The cooperation shows the power of our democracies.  I particularly welcome that we will step up our respective action on strengthening democracies, the rule of law, the freedom of media in the world.

 

And we also need to continue adapting our own democracies to a changing world.  This is particularly true when it comes to digitalization, in which the protection of personal data and privacy has become so crucial.

 

And therefore, I’m very pleased that we have found an agreement in principle on a new framework for transatlantic data flows.  This will enable predictable and trustworthy data flows between the EU and U.S., safeguarding privacy and civil liberties.

 

And I really want to thank Commissioner Reynders and Secretary Raimondo for their tireless efforts over the past month to finish a balanced and effective solution.  This is another step in our — strengthening our partnership.  We managed to balance security and the right to privacy and data protection.

 

Mr. President, Dear Joe: Putin is trying to turn back the clock to another era — an era of brutal use of force, of power politics, of spheres of influence, and internal repression.  I am confident he will fail.

 

We are working together to forge a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future.  And I know we will succeed.

 

Thank you very much.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Thank you.

 

PRESIDENT VON DER LEYEN:  Thank you very much.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Thank you, everyone.

 

10:18 A.M. CET


 

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by First Lady Jill Biden at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

MARCH 25, 2022

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

Memphis, TN

 

 

Thank you, Ashley, clearly you were called to your profession and your story is such a good reminder that small acts of kindness can really save us when we’re going through the hardest times. And now you’re paying that kindness forward for today’s patients. Thank you for that.

 

It’s wonderful to be back in Tennessee, but especially here at St. Jude.

 

Like most Americans I’ve known the work of this world-renowned institution, but to see just how special this place is firsthand is simply breathtaking. You all think of everything! And, your research is saving lives.

 

Marlo, thank you for welcoming us today. It is my honor to stand with you and truly celebrate your father’s legacy.

 

Congressman Cohen, Mayors Strickland and Harris, and our dear friend, Joyce, thank you for being with us.

 

Before I begin, I want to say that our hearts are with the families in New Orleans who have been hurt by the storms earlier this week. Please keep those families in your prayers.

 

Parents—we would do anything to keep our children safe.

 

That’s why one of the hardest parts of a cancer diagnosis is the paralyzing sense of helplessness.

 

But here at St. Jude, hearing about so many cutting-edge approaches to this disease, we are reminded that we aren’t helpless. In fact, we’re living in a time of incredible possibility.

 

Dr. Downing, thank you for showing me around—I’m inspired by the work that happens here.

 

We can end cancer as we know it. That’s what the Cancer Moonshot is all about.

 

It’s about listening to patients and survivors and their families, and finding new ways to ease the burden they face.

 

It’s about delivering new, effective treatments, including for childhood cancers, that turn a diagnosis from a moment of devastation into hope.

 

And it’s about bringing the brightest minds and fiercest hearts to the table, to learn, and collaborate, and discover together.

 

St. Jude understands that, and you support the entire family through this process.

 

With world-class care at no cost, and a tireless commitment to researching treatments and cures for childhood cancers, you have saved countless young lives. You offer healing and hope, care and community, a place of refuge for those facing the worst.

 

Like all of us, my heart has ached watching videos of Ukraine. The unthinkable bombing of a maternity ward. The theatre sheltering families, turned to debris and dust. Parents weeping over their children’s broken bodies in the streets.

 

The senselessness of it all is staggering.

 

That’s why Joe is working night and day to bring the world together to support Ukraine—with diplomacy and crippling sanctions against Russia. In fact, yesterday he attended a NATO Summit to discuss the defense of our Allies.

 

And today, he’s in Poland, where he met with our troops and humanitarian partners, seeing our efforts on the ground, and learning more about what we, and others, can do to support the Ukrainian people.

 

As part of our support, Joe announced yesterday that the U.S. will welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing Russia’s aggression.

 

But when I learned that St. Jude was working with hospitals in Europe to bring some of the Ukrainian children with cancer and their families here—I felt so proud and I wanted join you in welcoming them. We stand with Ukraine and we’re praying for their families.

 

So thank you to St. Jude and everyone who helped bring these children to safety.

 

We often hear that the measure of a society is how we treat our most vulnerable members. We know that we have a responsibility to care for children. But anyone who has held a tiny life—who has looked into those saucer eyes and felt impossibly strong fingers wrap around your own—knows that it is so much more than an obligation.

 

It is a joy, a gift – the honor of a lifetime.

 

And, not just our children—but all children. Because inside each one is a world of possibility, of hope, of all the better tomorrows we pray will come.

 

We owe them an end to cancer as we know it. We owe them safety and health.

 

We owe them happiness and joy—the chance to be a kid.

 

Together, we can give them that.

 

Thank you.

 

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Statement from President Biden on the Extraordinary NATO Summit

MARCH 24, 2022


STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

NATO leaders met today on the one-month anniversary of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine to reiterate our strong support for the Ukrainian people, our determination to hold Russia accountable for its brutal war, and our commitment to strengthening the NATO Alliance. We had the privilege of hearing directly from President Zelenskyy, and we will continue to support him and his government with significant, and increasing, amounts of security assistance to fight Russian aggression and uphold their right to self-defense.

 

In the past few weeks, the United States has announced $1 billion in new security assistance to Ukraine — anti-aircraft systems, anti-armor weapons, drones, and millions of rounds of ammunition. I welcome the steps by many other Allies to provide defensive support to Ukraine and together, we are committed to identifying additional equipment, including air defense systems, to help Ukraine.

 

We also discussed our work to bolster NATO’s collective defense, particularly on the Eastern flank. Our joint statement today makes clear that NATO is as strong and united as it has ever been. Immediately after Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine, we activated NATO’s defensive plans and the NATO Response Force. The United States has surged thousands of forces and additional capabilities to Europe, and we have welcomed the new deployments made by our Allies. Today’s establishment of four new battle groups in Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary is a strong signal that we will collectively defend and protect every inch of NATO territory. Between now and the NATO summit in June, we will develop plans for additional forces and capabilities to strengthen NATO’s defenses. We will adopt an updated Strategic Concept to ensure NATO is ready to meet any challenge in the new and more dangerous security environment.

 

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;

 

Background Press Call on President Biden’s Meetings at NATO

MARCH 24, 2022

PRESS BRIEFINGS Via Teleconference
 

11:53 A.M. CET

 

MODERATOR:  Well, good morning, everyone.  And thank you for joining the White House background call on the President’s trip to Europe.  As a reminder of the ground rules, this call will be on background, attributable to “senior administration officials.”

 

For your awareness but not for your reporting, the three officials joining us on our call today are [senior administration officials].

 

We will have two sections of the call today.  The first will be a recap of the President’s time at NATO, which will be embargoed until the call concludes.  The second section, which previews the G7 and EU meetings, will be embargoed until this afternoon at 2:15 p.m. Central European Time, or 9:15 a.m. Eastern Time.

 

With that, I’ll turn it over to our first speaker, [senior administration official], for the first section of the call.

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Thanks.  And good morning, almost good afternoon, to everyone.  I just stepped out of the listening room where I have been for the last hour or so, and I’m happy to share a little bit of color from what’s been happening in the meeting.

 

So, Secretary General Stoltenberg opened the meeting.  I’m sure all of you saw his open remarks, which were open to press. Then the leaders went into a closed session.

 

As I think everyone is tracking, President Zelenskyy was beamed in via video link from Ukraine to address the group.  He spoke very eloquently, as he has to a number of national parliaments in recent weeks, with a message very much focused on the efforts of the Ukrainian military and people to defend their country, to defend their citizens, and also to defend our shared democratic values.

 

He repeated his requests for continued and increased Western security assistance.  But notably, there was not a request for a no-fly zone.  There was also not a request for NATO membership in his remarks.

 

Following his intervention, he departed on the video link, and the members moved into a closed session among the Alliance.

 

After him, the President was the first speaker.  He set out the three-pronged approach that we have taken throughout this this crisis, noting that today marks the one-month anniversary of the launch of Russian military aggression against Ukraine.

 

First, he talked about everything that we have done to impose costs on Russia, including the very significant package of sanctions.

 

Second, he reiterated our strong support for Ukraine, both in terms of security assistance — increased and continued security assistance, as well as humanitarian assistance that we were continuing to provide to those both in Ukraine and to those fleeing the violence.

 

And third, a very strong message of support for NATO — reaffirming the U.S. commitment to Article 5 and the steps that the United States, in partnership with other Allies, had taken in recent weeks to reinforce the security of the eastern flank.

 

As part of that, speaking more generally: In terms of the Alliance, he talked about force posture adjustments, as I mentioned.  He welcomed the similar moves that we have seen from a number of countries to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank.  He welcomed the increased defense spending pledges that we have seen from a number of countries, as well as the ongoing robust exercises that are continuing.

 

Finally, he looked ahead to the Madrid summit, which will be in about two and a half months in late June, and laid out a number of issues that the Alliance is going to have to grapple with in advance of that summit, given the changed security context that we see ourselves in and as the Alliance is finalizing the strategic concept that will be addressing a number of these changes in security architecture.

 

By the time I left the room, I think about six leaders had spoken.  So, just to give you a sense of the mood: First, there was a very strong sense that we are facing a significant, historical moment, and very strong support from all of the leaders who spoke about the need to defend our democracy, the need to defend our shared values, and a strong sense that NATO was appropriately poised to be able to do that.

 

Second and relatedly, there was a very strong message of unity — notes of how united the NATO Alliance was, notes of unity across the transatlantic alliance; very strong support for NATO, for its Article 5 commitments; a number of leaders speaking about increases in their own defense spending; and also notes about changes that various countries have made in terms of force posture, particularly with what we’ve seen in the last couple of weeks with a significant movement of NATO forces to NATO’s eastern flank to defend the security of Allies there.

 

Third, very strong admiration for the Ukrainian military and the Ukrainian people in terms of everything they are doing to defend their country from Russian aggression.

 

There was also very strong pledges of support from across the Allies that I heard speak about their readiness to continue, as well as increase, their security assistance to Ukraine.

 

Related to that, many of the leaders also spoke about the importance of economic sanctions and the need for us to continue imposing robust economic costs on Russia in response to its aggression.

 

Related to that: On the Ukrainian people, very strong support for refugees; a lot of appreciation to the eastern flank Allies that have been bearing the brunt of the crisis; and continued pledges by Allies to continue contributing financially to the humanitarian assistance, as well as, of course, a number of these countries taking in refugees themselves.

 

And just a final note: There was also a reference by many of the speakers to China and a recognition that China needs to live up to its responsibilities within the international community as a U.N. Security Council member, that we need to continue to call on China not to support Russia in its aggression against Ukraine, and that we need China to call for a peaceful end to the conflict as a responsible member of the international community.

 

So the mood overall has been sober, it’s been resolute, and it’s been incredibly united.

So let me stop there with my opening comments.

 

MODERATOR:  Thank you so much, [senior administration official].  With that, we’ll open it up to a couple of questions on the NATO portion before we move on to the second portion of the call, which will be EU and G7 specific.

 

If I can ask everyone who has a question to please indicate you have one using the “raise hand” feature.

 

Josh Wingrove from Bloomberg.  I saw your hand up first.

 

Q    Thank you very much.  Hello from the travel pool.  Thank you for doing this.  Can you give me a sense of what President Zelenskyy did ask for if he didn’t mention NATO membership and didn’t mention the closure?

And also, NBC is reporting that 100,000 refugees — the U.S. will announce a pledge to take in 100,000 refugees.  Is there anything you can tell us on that in particular that we could publish before any later embargo?

 

Thank you.

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Great.  Thank you for that.

 

So, on your question about refugees, I don’t want to steal any thunder from my colleague, so let me defer that to the later part of the call where [senior administration official] is going to have more information specifically on some of our refugees and humanitarian assistance.

 

In terms of President Zelenskyy’s comments, I will let the Ukrainian government speak for themselves in terms of what specifically Zelenskyy conveyed to leaders in what was a closed, private session to leaders.

 

What I can say is that President Biden was very clear in his remarks about the security assistance that the U.S. has continued to provide, underscoring the $2 billion that we have provided over the last year, underscoring the billion dollars in new security assistance to Ukraine that we have just announced; talked in some specifics, as he has done previously, about the additional types of assistance that we have been providing to Ukraine.

And then, just more broadly, I would say that we have started consulting with Allies on providing anti-ship missiles to Ukraine.  There may be some technical challenges with making that happen, but that is something that we are consulting with Allies and starting to work on.

 

MODERATOR:  Thank you.  Next, we go to Kevin Liptak with CNN.

 

Q  Hi.  Thank you.  Yesterday, Jake said that discussion of Russia’s potential use of chemical or biological or nuclear weapons would come up in all these discussions.  I wonder if you could say whether that came up at NATO today and what the leaders — what was — if there was a consensus among the leaders about whether NATO would be obliged to respond to the use of those kinds of weapons should that take place.

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Yes, there were some references to that.  I think there is a recognition that NATO needs to continue a lot of the good, ongoing work to be prepared to respond to various contingencies.  It’s something that NATO, as a military alliance, is already postured to do, and it’s something that they recognize that they need to continue to do given the various scenarios that could emerge as part of this conflict.

 

The United States is already taking steps both nationally, as well as through NATO, to enhance the readiness and capability of our defense forces to respond to chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear incidents.  Frankly, for NATO, this is an important part of strengthening our longer-term defense and deterrence postures.

 

NATO has a Combined Joint CBRN Defence Task Force, which is an element of the NATO Response Force, which is prepared to deploy at SACEUR’s direction.  This includes specially trained and equipped forces who are able to deal with these types of incidents if there are attacks against NATO populations, territory, or forces.

 

And NATO Allies are also continuing to consult, as well as to take national decisions, to be able to provide on a bilateral basis protective equipment and medical countermeasures to help Ukraine detect, identify, and respond to these types of threats.

 

So, in sum, yes, it was a subject that came up in discussion today and I assume is a continuing part of the ongoing discussion.

 

Second, there are broader conversations within NATO about how to respond to these types of incidents.

 

And third, some NATO Allies are already taking national decisions to be able to respond to, potentially, Ukrainian needs on these threats as well.

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Thank you.  And then we’ll do one more question from Chris Megerian with AP.  After that, we’ll move on to the second portion.

 

Q    Hi, everybody.  I wanted to see if you could talk any more about force posture adjustments.  What specifically are we speaking about?

 

And then on China, when you said that China needs to do more, what specifically do you want to see them do more or see them stop doing?

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Thanks for that.  So, in terms of force posture, there was considerable discussion by leaders about the number of changes that have already been made across the Alliance.  I think what we’ve seen within the last couple of weeks with NATO Allies acting with great unity and speed to deploy additional defensive forces and capabilities in response to renewed Russian aggression against Ukraine.

 

NATO activated its response plans.  It deployed the NATO Response Force.  It increased NATO’s readiness.  And there’s now approximately 40,000 Allied forces under direct NATO command with particular emphasis on the eastern flank.

 

As part of that, the United States has already deployed thousands of additional forces to Europe.  There’s now approximately 100,000 U.S. forces on land, in the air, at sea, training, exercising, and ready to defer — or to deter and defend against any threat.

 

So, in the parts of the meeting that I was in, there was a lot of recognition about the steps that the U.S. has taken and, frankly, that a large number of other Allies have taken to move their forces to the eastern flank as well.

 

And in terms of China, I would refer to what I had said earlier in terms of similar messages that Stoltenberg himself actually has given within the last couple of days as well: that there is a desire for China to live up to its responsibilities within the international community, clearly a strong desire for Russia [China] not to provide economic or military assistance to Russia in furtherance of its aggression against Ukraine, and for China to join with other responsible members of the international community in calling on Russia to end its violence.

 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Thank you.  And with that, that concludes the first portion of the call, which, as a reminder, is embargoed until this call concludes.

 

12:08 P.M. CET

FACT SHEET: United States and Allies and Partners Impose Additional Costs on Russia

MARCH 24, 2022

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

United States sanctions over 400 Russian elites, Duma members, and defense companies in coordination with the European Union and G7; U.S. has now sanctioned over 600 targets

 

G7 and EU announce sanctions evasion initiative to prevent circumvention and backfilling of our unprecedented sanctions; continue to blunt Central Bank of the Russian Federation’s ability to deploy international reserves including gold

 

President Biden is in Europe to continue our historic coordination with allies and partners on all aspects of our response to Russia’s war against Ukraine, including imposing further severe costs on those enabling President Putin’s war of choice. Today, the United States is sanctioning over 400 individuals and entities comprised of Russian elites, the Duma and more than 300 of its members, and defense companies, aligning and strengthening our sanctions in close coordination and partnership with the EU and G7.

 

Our sanctions on Russia are unprecedented — in no other circumstance have we moved so swiftly and in such a coordinated fashion to impose devastating costs on any other country. The ruble has depreciated substantially, and is expected by markets to weaken further. The Moscow Stock Exchange closed for weeks. The Central Bank of the Russian Federation has doubled interest rates to 20 percent and companies are being forced to turn over foreign exchange for rubles to provide the Russian Government hard currency. The economy is forecast to contract as much as 15 percent or more in 2022. This economic collapse of Russia’s GDP will wipe out the past 15 years of economic gains in Russia, according to the Institute for International Finance. Inflation in Russia is already spiking, with analysts projecting it to rise up to 15 percent on a year-over-year basis, and the Russian Government has been downgraded to “junk” status by major credit rating agencies. More than 400 multinational companies have left Russia in a mass exodus by the private sector.

 

As long as President Putin continues this war, the United States and allies and partners are committed to ensuring the Russian government feels the compounding effects of our current and future economic actions.

 

Today’s actions include:

 

Full blocking sanctions on more than 400 individuals and entities, including the Duma and its members, additional Russian elites, and Russian defense companies that fuel Putin’s war machine. This includes:

 

328 Duma members and sanctioning the Duma as an entity.

Herman Gref, the head of Russia’s largest financial institution Sberbank and a Putin advisor since the 1990s.

Russian elite Gennady Timchenko, his companies and his family members.

17 board members of Russian financial institution Sovcombank.

48 Large Russian defense state-owned enterprises that are part of Russia’s defense-industrial base and produce weapons that have been used in Russia’s assault against Ukraine’s people, infrastructure, and territory, including Russian Helicopters, Tactical Missiles Corporation, High Precision Systems, NPK Tekhmash OAO, Kronshtadt. We are targeting, and will continue to target, the suppliers of Russia’s war effort and, in turn, their supply chain.

Establishment of an initiative focused on sanctions evasions. G7 leaders and the European Union today announced an initiative to share information about and coordinate responses related to evasive measures intended to undercut the effectiveness and impact of our joint sanctions actions. Together, we will not allow sanctions evasion or backfilling. As part of this effort, we will also engage other governments on adopting sanctions similar to those already imposed by the G7 and other partners.

 

Continuing to blunt the Central Bank’s ability to deploy international reserves, including gold, to prop up the Russian economy and fund Putin’s brutal war. G7 leaders and the European Union will continue to work jointly to blunt Russia’s ability to deploy its international reserves to prop up Russia’s economy and fund Putin’s war, including by making clear that any transaction involving gold related to the Central Bank of the Russian Federation is covered by existing sanctions.

 

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Readout of President Biden’s Meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

MARCH 24, 2022

 

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ahead of the extraordinary NATO Summit to address Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. They discussed the unity and strength of the alliance and NATO’s ongoing efforts to deter and defend against any aggression, and they welcomed the support of Allies for the government and people of Ukraine.

 

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President Biden is on his way to Europe to meet with our allies and partners in response to Putin’s brutal war in Ukraine. Amanda Sloat from President Biden’s National Security team previews his trip.

Amanda Sloat , Senior Director For Europe- NSC 

Today, President Biden is on his way to Europe. 

On March 24th, he will send te da in Brussels, Marking the one month anniversary of Russia's unjustified and unprovoked attack on Ukraine.

He will be spending the day meeting with the United States' closest allies and partners, including at NATO, the G7 and the European Union.

Our approach to this crisis has been:

The first to support the people ad goerment of Ukraine.

Second, o impose severe costs on Russia for its aggression.

Third, to deend the security of our alliance in Europe.

Ad finally, to rally the iternational community to Ukraine's support.

 

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On 5 March 2022, Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett met with Russian President Putin in Moscow as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine, as requested by Ukrainian President Zelensky. The meeting occurred after a series of phone calls between Bennett and Putin, and with the coordination of France, Germany, and the United States.

 

On March 20, 2022, Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida visited India, urging his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to take tougher line against the Russian invasion  ABC reported that India was purchasing oil from Russia despite pressure for sanctions.

 

On 21 March 2022, Reuters reported that China will provide 10 million yuan of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, in addition to an earlier donation of 5 million.

 

Popular culture

Julia Ioffe appeared in an interview for a 15 March 2022 PBS Frontline documentary "Putin's Road to War." She discusses Putin's invasion of Ukraine. In the interviews, she expresses the belief that Putin has made grievous miscalculations about Russian support and especially opposition to his 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

 

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One reason many Russians still support Putin and the "special military operation" in Ukraine has to do with the propaganda and disinformation being sown by the Kremlin.  The Russian censorship apparatus Roskomnadzor ordered the country's media to employ information only from Russian state sources or face fines and blocks. As the Russian government has avoided referring to the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a war or an invasion, stories that describe the event as an "assault", "invasion", or a "declaration of war" were ordered to be deleted. Putin signed into law a bill introducing prison sentences of up to 15 years for those who publish "fake news" about the Russian military and its operations, leading to some media outlets to stop reporting on Ukraine.

 

Some observers noted what they described as a "generational struggle" among Russians over perception of the war,[29] with younger Russians generally opposed to the war and older Russians more likely to accept the narrative presented by state-controlled media in Russia. Kataryna Wolczuk, an associate fellow of Chatham House's Russia and Eurasia programme, said, "[Older] Russians are inclined to think in line with the official 'narrative' that Russia is defending Russian speakers in Ukraine, so it's about offering protection rather than aggression."

 

In late February and mid-March 2022 with an interval of one and a half weeks, two polls conducted by a group of independent Russian sociologists[who?] to survey Russians' sentiments about the invasion. The results of the poll were obtained by Radio Liberty.  Almost three-quarters (71%) of the Russian population supported the invasion of Ukraine.  Russians over 35 were more likely to express feelings of "pride, respect, and hope". Respondents under the age of 18 were more prone to "resentment and disappointment". Young Russians in the age group of 18 to 24 were more likely to express "indifference" to what is happening in Ukraine. More than half of those over 55 support the war with Ukraine. And two out of five Russians expressed anxiety about the war, and these feelings were most often reported by young Russians.  The differences between the first and second polls show an increase in the number of people supporting the "military operation" and the independence of DPR and LPR.

 

When asked how they are affected by the actions of the Russian President, a third of respondents said they strongly believe that Putin is working in their interests, and another 26 percent say that he is working in their interests to some extent. In general, most Russians believe that it would be better if Putin remained president for "as long as possible".

 

Another polls conducted by Levada Center on 17–21 February found that the majority of respondents (52%) felt negatively towards Ukraine. Most (60%) blamed the US and NATO for the escalation of tensions in Eastern Ukraine, while 4% blamed Russia.

The polls suggest that net public approval of Putin had surged by about 13 percentage points since December 2021, a rally 'round the flag effect, with almost three-quarters (71%) expressing approval of Putin's leadership by February 2022.

 

Stronger sentiments were recorded in the pre-invasion poll conducted on 7–15 February for CNN in Russia by a British agency, Savanta ComRes, where half (50%) agreed that "it would be right for Moscow to use military force to prevent Kyiv from joining NATO". Two thirds of Russians (64%) in the poll said that they think Russians and Ukrainians are 'one people', compared to 28% of Ukrainians. A poll of 25–27 February 2022 by VCIOM reported strong support for the "special military operation" in Ukraine, with two thirds (68%) in favour, around one quarter (22%) against, and 10% provided no response. FOM[disambiguation needed] showed that 65% of respondents supported the "launch of Russia's special military operation" in a 25–27 February 2022 survey.

 

A private survey agency, Russian Field, reported that 58.8% of respondents supported "Russian military action in Ukraine" in polls conducted from 26–28 February 2022.  According to the poll, in the group of 18-to-24-year-olds, only 29% supported the invasion of Ukraine.

 

In conclusion, a majority of about 60% of the Russians supported the war prior to the outbreak of the conflict, according to different measures by different polls.

 

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 China – Chinese leader and General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Xi Jinping spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on 25 February, calling for Russia and Ukraine to resolve the issue through negotiation.  Putin told Xi that "Russia is willing to conduct high-level negotiations with Ukraine."  China's UN Ambassador Zhang Jun said that "We believe that all countries should solve international disputes by peaceful means in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter." In a statement released on 25 February, China said that Ukraine's territory and sovereignty should be respected and urged talks between Ukraine and Russia as soon as possible. Shortly after, PRC Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi stated that China has a clear position respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries, including Ukraine.  Various state media in Beijing quoted Scholz's description of the day of invasion as "a terrible day for Ukraine and a dark day for Europe." China has criticized sanctions against Russia, and said it understands Russia's 'security concerns' regarding NATO's eastward expansion. China's Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng claimed that if NATO "enlargement goes further, it would be approaching the 'outskirts of Moscow' where a missile could hit the Kremlin within seven or eight minutes."

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Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stated that "our hearts are with the civilians of eastern Ukraine who were caught up in this situation." He called for a halt to the violence and pledged to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Prime Minister Bennett has also offered to mediate and broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Foreign Affairs Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid stated that the "Russian attack on Ukraine is a grave violation of the international order. Israel condemns the attack, and is ready and prepared to provide humanitarian assistance to the citizens of Ukraine. Israel is a country that has experienced wars, and war is not the way to resolve conflicts."

On 27 February 2022, Israeli Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked decided to automatically extend a two-month visa extension for all Ukrainian tourists in Israel, so they can receive temporary asylum from the war in Ukraine.[111] On 8 March 2022, Minister Shaked announced the official policy of hosting Israel's Ukrainian refugees, of those who are not eligible to make aliyah. All 16,000 Ukrainians who stayed in Israel before the invasion and were not citizens will receive an automatic three-month extension of their residence visa in Israel. If the war in Ukraine continues beyond these three months, they will be able to stay in Israel automatically and will even receive work permits and the right to Israeli medical insurance. An Israeli pension for non-Israeli Ukrainian adults who will not be able to work in the future will also be considered. It was also decided to immediately cancel the economic guarantee of the Israeli citizens who invited Ukrainians to stay temporarily in their homes, and an additional quota of 5,000 Ukrainian refugees was opened. Any Ukrainian citizen wishing to come to Israel will be able to submit an online application on the Foreign Ministry website and as long as the accommodation quota is not filled, in the absence of any other impediment, they will be able to come to Israel temporarily. At the same time, Israeli citizens will be able to apply to invite Ukrainian citizens, up to one nuclear family per applicant, and these will receive as much priority as possible. This will also make it possible to better accommodate those who come to Israel. In total, Israel plans to host 25,000 refugees for the entire war period.  On March 13, Minister Shaked issued a statement in response to widespread criticism in Israel and in order to maintain the visa waiver agreement with Ukraine, in which she decided on an additional benefit in that anyone who has a relative in Israel and not eligible for citizenship himself will be exempted from the quota of 25,000 refugees but still would receive legal refugee status in Israel.

 

 South Korea – President Moon Jae-in said that South Korea would join international sanctions against Russia in the crisis and expressed regret over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He said: "The use of armed forces causing human casualties cannot be justified under any circumstances". The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that: "The Korean government strongly condemns Russia's armed invasion against Ukraine as a violation of the principles of the UN Charter" and "the Korean government will support and join the international community's efforts, including economic sanctions, to curb armed invasion".

 

 Niger was one of the 87 signatories to the UN letter condemning Russia's invasion of Ukrai

 

Albania –  After a NATO summit, Rama said that Albania would be ready to welcome a few thousand Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war.

 

 

 

Readout of President Joseph R. Biden Jr. Call with President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China

MARCH 18, 2022

 

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

 

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The conversation focused on Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. President Biden outlined the views of the United States and our Allies and partners on this crisis. President Biden detailed our efforts to prevent and then respond to the invasion, including by imposing costs on Russia. He described the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians. The President underscored his support for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis. The two leaders also agreed on the importance of maintaining open lines of communication, to manage the competition between our two countries. The President reiterated that U.S. policy on Taiwan has not changed, and emphasized that the United States continues to oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo. The two leaders tasked their teams to follow up on today’s conversation in the critical period ahead.

 

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On 24 February 2022, Russia began a military invasion of Ukraine,  in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict that Russia launched in 2014. Internationally considered a war of aggression,  it is the biggest assault on a European state since World War II.  The invasion has caused the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II,  with over 3.3 million Ukrainians fleeing their country.

 

Following the Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity in February 2014, Russia annexed Crimea, and Russian-backed separatists seized part of south-east Ukraine, starting the war in Donbas.  In 2021, Russia began a large military build-up along its border with Ukraine. Russian president Vladimir Putin espoused irredentist views, questioned Ukraine's right to statehood,  and falsely accused Ukraine of being dominated by neo-Nazis who persecute the Russian-speaking minority. Putin said NATO had threatened Russia's security by expanding eastward – a claim disputed by NATO  – and demanded Ukraine be barred from ever joining the alliance.  The United States and others accused Russia of planning to attack or invade Ukraine, which Russian officials repeatedly denied as late as 23 February 2022.

 

On 21 February 2022, Russia recognised the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People's Republic, two self-proclaimed states in Donbas controlled by pro-Russian separatists and recognised by no other state. The next day, the Federation Council of Russia authorised use of military force abroad, and Russian troops entered both territories. On 24 February, at about 5:00 EET (UTC+2),  Putin announced a "special military operation" to "demilitarise and denazify" Ukraine.  Minutes later, missiles and airstrikes struck throughout Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, shortly followed by a large ground invasion from multiple directions.  In response, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy severed bilateral relations and enacted martial law and general mobilisation.

 

Multi-pronged assaults were launched from Russia proper, Belarus, and the two occupied territories of Ukraine (Crimea and Donbas). Four major war theatres developed: the Kyiv offensive, the Northeastern Ukraine offensive, the Eastern Ukraine offensive, and the Southern Ukraine offensive, while the Russian military also carried out air and missile strikes far into western Ukraine. Russian forces have approached or besieged a number of key settlements, such as Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kyiv, Mariupol, and Sumy, but met stiff Ukrainian resistance, and experienced logistical and operational challenges that hampered their progress.

 

The invasion was widely condemned internationally. The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution which condemned it and demanded a full withdrawal. The International Court of Justice ordered Russia to suspend military operations, and the Council of Europe expelled Russia. Many countries imposed new sanctions, which have led to economic impact on Russia and the world economy. Various countries gave humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine.  Protests occurred around the world; those in Russia have been met with mass arrests and increased media censorship,  including banning the terms "war" and "invasion". Numerous companies withdrew their products and services from Russia and Belarus. The International Criminal Court opened an investigation into allegations of war crimes which the Russian military may have committed in Ukraine.

 

On 5 March 2022, Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett met with Russian President Putin in Moscow as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine, as requested by Ukrainian President Zelensky. The meeting occurred after a series of phone calls between Bennett and Putin, and with the coordination of France, Germany, and the United States.

 

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TWSP.jpg

A superpower is a state with a dominant position characterized by its extensive ability to exert influence or project power on a global scale. This is done through the combined means of economic, military, technological, political and cultural strength as well as diplomatic and soft power influence. Traditionally, superpowers are preeminent among the great powers.

 

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Readout of President Biden’s Call with President Macron of France

MARCH 13, 2022

 

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

 

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Emmanuel Macron of France to discuss Russia’s war against Ukraine. They reviewed recent diplomatic engagements and underscored their commitment to hold Russia accountable for its actions and to support the government and people of Ukraine.

 

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According to Yahoo dated March 14, 2022, Russia has asked China for military equipment and economic support follwoing the Kemin's protracted invitation of Ukraine, several media outlets reported Sunday.

 

The request comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin expanded his assault on Ukraine to the country's west, killing 35 people in a n attack on a military base not far from its border with Poland.  But Russia has faced fiercer than expected resistance.  particularly around Kyiv, and there is evidence the country is running low on weaponry, the Financial Times reported.

 

It's unclear how China responded, and U.S. officials only spoke to the outlets on condition of anonymity to preserve Russian intelligence gathering efforts.  Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington D.C. said he'd "never heard" of the Russian request for support.

 

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 On 21 February 2022, Russia officially recognised the two self-proclaimed separatist states in the Donbas, and openly sent troops into the territories. Three days later, Russia invaded Ukraine. Much of the international community have condemned Russia for its actions in post-revolutionary Ukraine, accusing it of breaking international law and violating Ukrainian sovereignty. Many countries implemented economic sanctions against Russia, Russian individuals, or companies, especially after the 2022 invasion.

 

International sanctions have been imposed during the Russo–Ukrainian War by a large number of countries against Russia and Crimea following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began in late February 2014. Belarus has also been sanctioned. The sanctions were imposed by the United States, the European Union (EU) and other countries and international organisations against individuals, businesses and officials from Russia and Ukraine. Russia responded with sanctions against a number of countries, including a total ban on food imports from Australia, Canada, Norway, Japan, the United States and the European Union.

 

The sanctions contributed to the collapse of the Russian ruble and the Russian financial crisis.  They also caused economic damage to a number of EU countries, with total losses estimated at €100 billion (as of 2015).  As of 2014, Russia's finance minister announced that the sanctions had cost Russia $40 billion, with another $100 billion loss in 2014 taken due to the decrease in the price of oil the same year driven by the 2010s oil glut. Following the latest sanctions imposed in August 2018, economic losses incurred by Russia amount to some 0.5–1.5% of foregone GDP growth.[citation needed] Russian president Vladimir Putin has accused the United States of conspiring with Saudi Arabia to intentionally weaken the Russian economy by decreasing the price of oil.  By mid-2016, Russia had lost an estimated $170 billion due to financial sanctions, with another $400 billion in lost revenues from oil and gas. According to Ukrainian officials,[a] the sanctions forced Russia to change its approach towards Ukraine and undermined the Russian military advances in the region.[8][9] Representatives of these countries say that they will lift sanctions against Russia only after Moscow fulfils the Minsk II agreements.

 

The sanctions by the European Union and United States continue to be in effect as of February 2022.  In January 2022, the EU announced the latest extension of sanctions until 31 July 2022. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the United States, the European Union,  and other countries, including China, introduced or significantly expanded sanctions to include Vladimir Putin and other government members, and cut off "selected Russian banks" from SWIFT, triggering the 2022 Russian financial crisis and massive international boycott of Russia and Belarus.

 

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FACT SHEET: United States, European Union,
and G7 to Announce Further Economic Costs on Russia

MARCH 11, 2022

 

 

 

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

Today, President Biden and G7 Leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom as well as the European Union will announce new economic actions to hold Putin accountable for his continued assault on Ukraine and further isolate Russia from the global financial system. Each partner will implement actions consistent with their national processes.

 

These actions will collectively ramp up pressure on Putin and build on the unprecedented package of economic sanctions and export controls the United States and over 30 countries have already imposed on Russia. Today, the ruble is trading at its weakest level ever and is worth less than a penny; the Russian stock market is closed for the longest time in history; the Russian government’s credit rating has been downgraded to “junk” status, and we’re seeing a mass exodus from Russia by the private sector – the result of our historic, multilateral coordination and commitment to ensure that Putin’s war of choice is a strategic failure. Russia has now become a global economic and financial pariah.  

 

Today’s announcements include:

 

Revoking Russia’s Most-Favored Nation Status. President Biden will work closely with Congress to deny Russia the benefits of its WTO membership and ensure that Russian imports do not receive most favored nation treatment in our economy. The United States Congress has demonstrated bipartisan leadership to revoke Permanent Normal Trade Relations for Russia, and President Biden looks forward to signing a bill into law. Together with similar actions by the G7, following our respective national processes, this collective action by more than half of the global economy will deliver another serious economic blow to Russia.

 

Denying Borrowing Privileges at Multilateral Financial Institutions. The G7 Leaders will agree to ensure Russia cannot obtain financing from the leading multilateral financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Russia cannot grossly violate international law and expect to benefit from being part of the international economic order.

 

Full blocking Sanctions on Additional Russian Elites and their Family Members. This includes Yuri Kovalchuk, executives of banks we have sanctioned, and Duma members who sponsored legislation to recognize the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic” and “Luhansk People’s Republic.” This action will follow up on multiple efforts, along with those of our allies and partners, to target Russian elites and their family members who are profiting from this war of choice, and cuts them off from the U.S. financial system, freezes any assets they hold in the United States and blocks their travel to the United States. We will work through the international task force announced on February 26 to pursue the ill-gotten gains of these elites.

 

Ban Export of Luxury Goods to Russia. President Biden will sign an Executive Order (E.O) that will end the exportation of luxury items to any person located in the Russian Federation. This will ensure that U.S. persons are not providing luxury items, such as high end-watches, luxury vehicles, high-end apparel, high-end alcohol, jewelry, and other goods frequently purchased by Russian elites. The U.S. export value of the products covered by today’s luxury goods restrictions is nearly $550 million per year. The elites who sustain Putin’s war machine should no longer be able to reap the gains of this system and squander the resources of the Russian people.

 

Ban U.S. Import of Goods from Several Signature Sectors of Russia’s Economy. President Biden’s E.O. will also prohibit the import of goods from several signature sectors of Russia’s economy – including seafood, spirits/vodka, and non-industrial diamonds. This will deny Russia more than $1 billion in export revenues and ensure U.S. citizens are not underwriting Putin’s war. The United States retains the authority to impose additional import bans as appropriate.

 

New guidance by the Department of Treasury to Thwart Sanctions Evasion, including through Virtual Currency. The Department of the Treasury, through new guidance, will continue to make clear that Treasury’s expansive actions against Russia require all U.S. persons to comply with sanctions regulations regardless of whether a transaction is denominated in traditional fiat currency or virtual currency. Treasury is closely monitoring any efforts to circumvent or violate Russia-related sanctions, including through the use of virtual currency, and is committed to using its broad enforcement authorities to act against violations and to promote compliance.  

 

Create the Authority to Ban New Investment in Any Sector of the Russian Federation Economy. President Biden has already banned new U.S. investments in the Russian energy sector. This E.O. will establish the legal authority for future investment restrictions in any sector of the Russian economy, as may be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, by a United States person.

 

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Joint Statement on U.S.-UK Consultations on the Indo-Pacific

MARCH 11, 2022

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

On 7-8 March, the United Kingdom and United States held high-level consultations on the Indo-Pacific. The U.S. delegation was led by Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell and included representatives from the Department of State, Department of Defense, and National Security Council. The UK delegation was led by Deputy National Security Advisor David Quarrey and included representatives from across Her Majesty’s Government. Officials from both governments resolved to broaden and deepen their alignment and cooperation on and in the region. They welcomed growing coordination among allies and partners across the Atlantic and the Pacific. In particular, they noted unprecedented commitments from Indo-Pacific countries—including Japan, Australia, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, and Singapore—to support Ukraine and to impose costs on Russia for its brutal and unprovoked attack. They also noted that these steps come at a time when the U.S., UK and European partners are enhancing their engagement with the Indo-Pacific and preparing to meet the challenge of systemic competition with China.

 

U.S. and UK officials committed to coordinate implementation of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy and the UK’s Indo-Pacific tilt, as set out in its Integrated Review. They noted progress made on AUKUS and reaffirmed their commitment at the highest level to ensuring the delivery of conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarines and other advanced capabilities to promote security and stability in the region. They agreed to pursue positive economic engagement in the Indo-Pacific, including through supporting just green transitions as part of the Clean Green Initiative and Build Back Better World agendas; to collaborate on critical and emerging technologies; to ensure economic security; and to oppose economic coercion. They reaffirmed the importance of the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. They also discussed Hong Kong. In the coming months, the U.S. and the UK will work together to invest in partnerships with the Pacific Islands; to support the centrality of ASEAN and to advance concrete cooperation with ASEAN and its member states; and to enhance ties with India.     

 

To reinforce their commitment and sustain it in the long term, the United States and the United Kingdom agreed to inaugurate a continuing dialogue on the Indo-Pacific. The dialogue will be led in the U.S. Government by the National Security Council and the Department of State and in Her Majesty’s Government by the National Security Secretariat and the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office.

 

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Readout of President Biden’s Call with
President Zelenskyy of Ukraine

MARCH 05, 2022

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

 

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke this evening with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine.  President Biden highlighted the ongoing actions undertaken by the United States, its Allies and partners, and private industry to raise the costs on Russia for its aggression in Ukraine.  In particular, he welcomed the decision this evening by Visa and Mastercard to suspend service in Russia. President Biden noted his administration is surging security, humanitarian, and economic assistance to Ukraine and is working closely with Congress to secure additional funding.  President Biden reiterated his concern about the recent Russian attack on a Ukrainian nuclear power plant, and he commended the skill and bravery of the Ukrainian operators who have kept the reactors in safe condition.  The leaders also discussed the recent talks between Russia and Ukraine.

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 _____________________

 

In March and April 2021, Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian military to begin massing thousands of personnel and equipment near its border with Ukraine and in Crimea, representing the largest mobilization since the annexation of Crimea in 2014.  This precipitated an international crisis due to concerns over a potential invasion. Satellite imagery showed movements of armour, missiles, and heavy weaponry. The troops were partially withdrawn by June 2021,  but the crisis was renewed in October and November 2021, when over 100,000 Russian troops were massed around Ukraine on three sides by December.  Despite the Russian military build-ups, Russian officials from November 2021 to 20 February 2022 repeatedly denied that Russia had plans to invade Ukraine.

 

The crisis is related to the ongoing (2014–present) War in Donbas, which is in turn part of the Russo-Ukrainian War. In December 2021, Russia advanced two draft treaties that contained requests for what it referred to as "security guarantees", including a legally binding promise that Ukraine would not join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as well as a reduction in NATO troops and materiel stationed in Eastern Europe, and threatened unspecified military response if those demands were not met in full. NATO has rejected these requests, and the United States warned Russia of "swift and severe" economic sanctions should it further invade Ukraine. The crisis was described by many commentators as one of the most intense in Europe since the Cold War.  International affairs analyst Fiona Hill commented on February 28 2022 that this invasion of Ukraine is another sign that World War III already is in progress.

 

On 21 February 2022, Russia officially recognized the two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic, as independent states,  and deployed troops to Donbas, in a move interpreted as Russia's effective withdrawal from the Minsk Protocol. The breakaway republics were recognized in the boundaries of their respective Ukrainian oblasts, which extend far beyond the line of contact. On 22 February, Putin said that the Minsk agreements were no longer valid.[57] On the same day, the Federation Council unanimously authorised the use of military force in the territories.

 

On the morning of 24 February, Putin announced that Russia was initiating a "special military operation" in the Donbas, and launched a full-scale invasion into Ukraine.

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Remarks by President Biden Announcing Response to Russian Actions in Ukraine

 

 

Remarks by President Biden Announcing Response to Russian Actions in Ukraine

FEBRUARY 22, 2022

East Room

2:22 P.M. EST

 

THE PRESIDENT:  Trying to make up your mind, huh?  (Laughter.)

Well, good afternoon.  Yesterday, Vladimir Putin recognized two regions of Ukraine as independent states and he bizarrely asserted that these regions are no longer part of Ukraine and their sovereign territory.  To put it simply, Russia just announced that it is carving out a big chunk of Ukraine.

Last night, Putin authorized Russian forces to deploy into the region — these regions.  Today, he asserted that these regions are — actually extend deeper than the two areas he recognized, claiming large areas currently under the jurisdiction of the Ukraine government.

He’s setting up a rationale to take more territory by force, in my view.  And if we listen to his speech last night — and many of you did, I know — he’s — he’s setting up a rationale to go much further.

This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, as he indicated and asked permission to be able to do from his Duma.

So, let’s begin to — so, I’m going to begin to impose sanctions in response, far beyond the steps we and our Allies and partners implemented in 2014.  And if Russia goes further with this invasion, we stand prepared to go further as — with sanction.

Who in the Lord’s name does Putin think gives him the right to declare new so-called countries on territory that belonged to his neighbors?  This is a flagrant violation of international law, and it demands a firm response from the international community.

Over the last few months, we have coordinated closely with our NATO Allies and partners in Europe and around the world to prepare that response.  We’ve said all along and I’ve told Putin to his face a mon- — a month a- — more than a month ago that we would act together and the moment Russia moved against Ukraine.

Russia has now undeniably moved against Ukraine by declaring these independent states.

So, today, I’m announcing the first tranche of sanctions to impose costs on Russia in response to their actions yesterday.  These have been closely coordinated with our Allies and partners, and we’ll continue to escalate sanctions if Russia escalates.

We’re implementing full blocking sanctions on two large Russian financial institutions: V.E.B. and their military bank.

We’re implementing comprehensive sanctions on Russian sovereign debt.  That means we’ve cut off Russia’s government from Western financing.  It can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade in its new debt on our markets or European markets either.

Starting tomorrow [today] and continuing in the days ahead, we will also impose sanctions on Russia’s elites and their family members.  They share in the corrupt gains of the Kremlin policies and should share in the pain as well.

And because of Russia’s actions, we’ve worked with Germany to ensure Nord Stream 2 will not — as I promised — will not move forward.

As Russia contemplates its next move, we have our next move prepared as well.  Russia will pay an even steeper price if it continues its aggression, including additional sanctions.

The United States will continue to provide defensive assistance to Ukraine in the meantime.  And we’ll continue to reinforce and reassure our NATO Allies.

Today, in response to Russia’s admission that it will not withdraw its forces from Belarus, I have authorized additional movements of U.S. forces and equipment already stationed in Europe to strengthen our Baltic Allies — Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Let me be clear: These are totally defensive moves on our part.  We have no intention of fighting Russia.  We want to send an unmistakable message, though, that the United States, together with our Allies, will defend every inch of NATO territory and abide by the commitments we made to NATO.

We still believe that Russia is poised to go much further in launching a massive military attack against Ukraine.  I hope I’m wrong about that — hope we’re wrong about that.  But Russia has only escalated its threat against the rest of Ukrainian territory, including major cities and including the capital city of Kyiv.

There are — there are still well over 150,000 Russian troops surrounding Ukraine.  And as I said, Russian forces remain positioned in Belarus to attack Ukraine from the north, including war planes and offensive missile systems.

Russia has moved troops closer to Ukraine’s border with Russia.  Russia’s naval vessels are maneuvering in the Black Sea to Ukraine’s south, including amphibious assault ships, missile cruisers, and submarines.

Russia has moved supplies of blood and medical equipment into position on their border.  You don’t need blood unless you plan on starting a war.

And over the last few days, we’ve seen much of the playbook that Secretary Blinken laid out last week at the United Nations Security Council come to pass: a major increase in military provocations and false-flag events along the line of contact in the Donbas; dramatically staged, conveniently on-camera meeting of Putin’s Security Council to grandstand for the Russian public; and now political provocation of recognizing sovereign Ukrainian territory as so-called independent republics in clear violation, again, of international law.

President Putin has sought authorization from the Russian parliament to use military force outside of Russian territory.  And this set the stage for further pretexts and further provocations by Russia to try to justify further military action.

None of us — none of us should be fooled.  None of us will be fooled.  There is no justification.

Further Russian assault into Ukraine remains a severe threat in the days ahead.  And if Russia proceeds, it is Russia, and Russia alone, that bears the responsibility.

As we respond, my administration is using every tool at our disposal to protect American businesses and consumers from rising prices at the pump.  As I said last week, defending freedom will have costs for us as well, here at home.  We need to be honest about that.

But as we will do — but as we do this, I’m going to take robust action and make sure the pain of our sanctions is targeted at the Russian economy, not ours.

We are closely monitoring energy supplies for any disruption.  We’re executing a plan in coordination with major oil-producing consumers and producers toward a collective investment to secure stability and global energy supplies.

This will be — this will blunt gas prices.  I want to limit the pain the American people are feeling at the gas pump.  This is critical to me.

In the last few days, I have been in constant contact with European leaders, including with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.  Vice President Harris met in person with leaders in Germany over the weekend at the Munich Conference, including President Zelenskyy.

At every step, we have shown that the United States and our Allies and partners are working in unison — which he hasn’t been counting on — Mr. Putin.  We’re united in our support of Ukraine.  We’re united in our opposition to Russian aggression.  And we’re united in our resolve to defend our NATO Alliance.  And we’re united in our understanding of the urgency and seriousness of the threat Russia is making to global peace and stability.

Yesterday, the world heard clearly the full extent of Vladimir Putin’s twisted rewrite of history, going back more than a century, as he waxed eloquently, noting that — well, I’m not going to go into it, but nothing in Putin’s lengthy remarks indicated any interest in pursuing real dialogue on European security in the year 2022.

He directly attacked Ukraine’s right to exist.  He indirectly threatened territory formerly held by Russia, including nations that today are thriving democracies and members of NATO.  He explicitly threatened war unless his extreme demands were met.

And there is no question that Russia is the aggressor.  So we’re clear-eyed about the challenges we’re facing.

Nonetheless, there is still time to avert the worst-case scenario that will bring untold suffering to millions of people if they move as suggested.

The United States and our Allies and partners remain open to diplomacy if it is serious.  When all is said and done, we’re going to judge Russia by its actions, not its words.

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

We’ll probably have more to say about this as we — if it moves on.  I’m hoping diplomacy is still available.

Thank you all very much.

2:32 P.M. EST 

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Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate regarding the Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting Certain Transactions with Respect to Continued Russian Efforts to Undermine the Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of Ukraine

FEBRUARY 21, 2022

 

Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Madam President:)

Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), I hereby report that I have issued an Executive Order (the “order”) that expands the scope of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13660 of March 6, 2014, and expanded by Executive Order 13661 of March 16, 2014, and Executive Order 13662 of March 20, 2014, and relied on for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13685 of December 19, 2014, and Executive Order 13849 of September 20, 2018, by finding that the Russian Federation’s purported recognition of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) or Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) regions of Ukraine constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.

In order to deal with this threat, I am prohibiting new investment in the so-called DNR or LNR regions of Ukraine or such other regions of Ukraine as may be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State (“Covered Regions”), by a United States person, wherever located; the importation into the United States, directly or indirectly, of any goods, services, or technology from the Covered Regions; the exportation, reexportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States, or by a United States person, wherever located, of any goods, services, or technology to the Covered Regions; and any approval, financing, facilitation, or guarantee by a United States person, wherever located, of a transaction by a foreign person where the transaction by that foreign person would be prohibited by the order if performed by a United States person or within the United States.

I am also creating the authority to impose sanctions on persons determined to operate or have operated since the date of the order in the Covered Regions; to be or have been since the date of the order a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of an entity operating in the Covered Region; to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the order; or to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the order.

I am enclosing a copy of the order I have issued.

Sincerely,

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

 

Statement by Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Russian Announcement on Eastern Ukraine

FEBRUARY 21, 2022

We have anticipated a move like this from Russia and are ready to respond immediately. President Biden will soon issue an Executive Order that will prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine. This E.O. will also provide authority to impose sanctions on any person determined to operate in those areas of Ukraine. The Departments of State and Treasury will have additional details shortly. We will also soon announce additional measures related to today’s blatant violation of Russia’s international commitments.

To be clear: these measures are separate from and would be in addition to the swift and severe economic measures we have been preparing in coordination with Allies and partners should Russia further invade Ukraine.

We are continuing to closely consult with Allies and partners, including Ukraine, on next steps and on Russia’s ongoing escalation along the border with Ukraine.

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Readout of President Biden’s National Security Council Meeting

FEBRUARY 20, 2022

 

Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. convened a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the latest developments regarding Russia’s military buildup on the borders of Ukraine.

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Remarks by Vice President Harris in Press Gaggle

FEBRUARY 20, 2022

The Westin Grand Munich

Munich, Germany

 

11:18 A.M. CEST

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, this was an important trip to be here at the Munich Security Conference — in particular this year, as I said yesterday.

We are looking at a moment that is a very decisive moment on one of the bases for the Munich Security Conference and certainly one of the founding reasons for NATO, which is European security and the connection and alliance between Europe and the United States.

This was a productive trip, in terms of the extensive bilateral meetings that we had that were in furtherance of the ongoing collaboration and partnership with our Allies.  

It was important in that, as you all know, this is a moment that is very dynamic.  If not every hour, certainly every day, there seem to be new moments of interest and also of intelligence.

 

And so we have affirmed, however — all of that being said — through these last couple of days, that this Alliance is strong — probably stronger than it was before; and — and that this Alliance has purpose and meaning founded on shared principles that are very much at play right now.  And as I mentioned yesterday, if we think about those principles, one of the most important is about a mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, which at its essence is what is at play in terms of Russia’s posture as it relates to Ukraine.

 

At stake is the NATO Alliance, in terms of our unity, joining together — through, sometimes, compromise; certainly always through collaboration — to be a unified voice, especially when these very founding principles of our relationship are being compromised, if not attacked.

So, with that, I’ll take any questions you have.

AIDE:  And I’ll call on folks.  So, Nandita from Reuters.

Q    Thank you, Madam Vice President.  During your meeting with President Zelenskyy, he spoke a little bit about asking the U.S. for specific defense aid.  Could you talk a little bit about what he asked the United States for and what the U.S. has agreed to offer?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Sure.  Well, I’ll tell you what I think you already know: So far, we have offered — not even offered, we have — we have transferred and given $650 million in aid.  We have also made certain loan guarantees around, in particular, $1 billion.

 

And that is on top of all of the work that we have done collectively through the NATO Alliance to provide support for Ukraine.

Q    Is there anything new that you are planning to offer Ukraine?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, what I made clear in our meeting and — is that — again, this is a dynamic situation.  And depending on what happens in the coming days, we will reevaluate the need that Ukraine has and our ability to support.  And we have been doing that through the course of these many months.

AIDE:  Let’s go to Molly from ABC.

Q    Thank you, Madam Vice President.  I wanted to ask you, first, are you going to take part in that NSC meeting —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yes.

Q    — today?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yes.

Q    You are going to take part in that?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yes.

Q    And then I wanted to follow up on your meeting with President Zelenskyy yesterday.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.

Q    When he spoke after your meeting, he shared his frustration with countries like the U.S. who say that a attack is likely to happen in Ukraine but that you won’t put sanctions in place until that happens.

You — the administration has continually said that retaining those sanctions holds on to some leverage.  But if you believe Putin has made up his mind, what leverage do you really have?  Why not put those sanctions in place now?

 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  The purpose of the sanctions has always been and continues to be deterrence.  But let’s also recognize the unique nature of the sanctions that we have outlined.

These are some of the greatest sanctions, if not the strongest, that we’ve ever issued.  As I articulated yesterday, it is directed at institutions — in particular, financial institutions — and individuals, and it will exact absolute harm for the Russian economy and their government.

Q    But if Putin has made up his mind, do you feel that this threat that has been looming is really going to deter him?

 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Absolut- — we strongly believe — and remember also that the sanctions are a product not only of our perspective as the United States but a shared perspective among our Allies.  And the Allied relationship is such that we have agreed that the deterrence effect of these sanctions is still a meaningful one, especially because — remember, also — we still sincerely hope that there is a diplomatic path out of this moment.

And within the context then of the fact that that window is still opening, altho- — open, although it is absolutely narrowing — but within the context of a diplomatic path still being open, the deterrence effect, we believe, has merit.

AIDE:  Let’s go to Jennifer Jacobs from Bloomberg.

Q    Thank you.  Would you be willing to talk a little bit about how the U.S. would get out of this potential conflict with Russia?  What is the endgame?  How does the U.S. — after imposing some of these sanctions and possible military action, how does the U.S. disentangle from this?

 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I would characterize it differently.  I don’t — we don’t consider ourselves to be entangled.  But we’re very clear of our principles and our purpose, which is to be aligned with our Allies, understanding that — I mean, listen, guys, we’re talking about the potential for war in Europe.

 

I mean, let’s really take a moment to understand the significance of what we’re talking about.  It’s been over 70 years.  And through those 70 years, as I mentioned yesterday, there has been peace and security.  We are talking about the real possibility of war in Europe.

 

So our position is, for us, very clear, which is as a leader — which we have been, bringing together the Allies, working together around our collective and unified position — that we would all not just prefer, we desire, we believe it is in the best interest of all that there is a diplomatic end to this moment.  And so where do we want this to end?  That is where we want it to end.

Q    What should Americans be braced for?  What could they possibly be facing?  The President has already said Americans will be facing some economic fallout or some hardships.  Can you explain to Americans what exactly will they face if this happened?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Sure.  As the President talked about in his speech, we are aware that, again, when America stands for her principles and all of the things that we hold dear, it requires sometimes for us to put ourselves out there in a way that maybe we will incur some cost.  And in this situation, that may relate to energy costs, for example.  But we are taking very specific and appropriate, I believe, steps to mitigate what that cost might be if it happens.

AIDE:  Let’s go to Eli at the Los Angeles Times.

Q    Thank you, Madam Vice President.  A question about something else that President Zelenskyy said yesterday relating to NATO.  He seemed to question the sincerity of Allies, including the U.S., I think, in terms of a desire to admit Ukraine to NATO.  Is there any — is there any reaction to those pretty pointed comments from the President?  And was that something that was discussed with Chancellor Scholz and other leaders?

 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Let me start by saying I appreciate and admire President Zelenskyy’s desire to join NATO.  And one of, again, the founding principles of NATO is that each country must have the ability — unimpaired, unimpeded — to determine their own future, both in terms of their form of government and, in this case, whether they desire to be a member of NATO.

 

And I’ll put that in context, because the obvious is also the point, which is that: and therefore no other country can tell anyone whether they should or should not join NATO.  That should be their independent choice.  That is the point of sovereignty.  So I respect President Zelenskyy’s desire to be a member of NATO.

NATO is a membership.  It is about nations coming together as a group, making decisions collectively around, again, principles and what will be, then, the conditions and — and the standards of membership.  And so that is the process.

It doesn’t happen overnight.  No one country can say “I want to be, and therefore I will be.”  And no one country can say “You can’t be.”  And isn’t that at the heart of the very issue we’re presented with in terms of Russia’s aggression, or stated aggression, toward Ukraine?

Q    Was it surprising to you, though, that he planted that flag so firmly on that issue — given that that’s obviously Putin’s main demand, is that he gets some sort of guarantee, swearing that Ukraine won’t be admitted — that Zelenskyy wants to make it clear that they do want to enter the organization?  Was that a surprise that he would come and say that at this point in this crisis?  And does that make it less likely that there’ll be some sort of diplomatic resolution?

 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I’m not going to second guess President Zelenskyy’s desires for his own country.  But I will say this: Let us recognize the position he is in right now.  His country is virtually surrounded by Russian troops.  I believe he came here — this is my belief, based on just my own assessment and speculation — he came here to make a very clear point that he does not stand alone.

In fact, I told him in our meeting, “The United States stands with you.”  Because we do, as do this community of Allies and partners.

So I understand where he — why he came here.  And I would not second guess — I will not second guess why he spoke the words he speaks.

He’s in a position, again, where his country is virtually surrounded by what — by, I think most reasonable people would believe, hostile troops.

AIDE:  Let’s go to Aamer at The AP, please.

Q    Thank you, Madam Vice President.  So Daleep Singh said late last week that SWIFT sanctions probably won’t be part of the opening gambit if sanctions go forward.  Considering the administration saying early and often that you’re going to stay high — start high and stay high, how does that square?  How can you start high and stay high without SWIFT sanctions in the package?

 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We’re going to take this one moment at a time in terms of what might need to happen in the future in terms of escalation.  But right now, we’ve made our position clear.

AIDE:  And last question, let’s go to Natasha at CNN.

Q    Thank you, Madam Vice President.  I’m wondering whether the U.S. has evidence that Putin has actually given the order to his subordinates to launch an attack and whether that intelligence and that evidence is shared and agreed upon by the Allies here — and that includes Zelenskyy, who has been skeptical of this kind of intelligence in the past.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  As the President has said, we believe that Putin has made his decision.  Period.  And — but I will also say that, as part of our relationship and partnership, in — in the context of the Alliance, we do share information, certainly, because we want to make sure that we are all working with the same information when we make these very critical and meaningful decisions — the last question about sanctions.

And I said it yesterday on the stage: Everybody didn’t agree at the beginning about what the consequences should be if Russia re-invades Ukraine.  We had to meet.  We had to discuss it.  Because each of these nations — I mean, I spe- — I spent time — a considerable amount of time with the Chancellor of Germany yesterday.  I — I spent time with the President of the EU yesterday.  When we look at the significance of these sanctions, they are immense.

 

And so, all nations who are a part of this understand that we cannot take lightly or speak lightly about what we are prepared to do, because we do understand the cost we are exacting, and it is severe.

 

So we have had these discussions, again, through a process.  We have arrived at this place.  And — and back to the last question, we will, obviously, reassess depending on how the days, weeks, and months ahead roll out.

Q    And do you believe —

AIDE:  Thank you all.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  But — just go on.  You can go to the follow-up (inaudible).

Q    I was just going to ask: Do you believe that the U.S. and Ukraine are now more on the same page about what the intelligence suggests than they have been in the past?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I can tell you that there has been direct communication about the intelligence, so nothing is being held back.

Q    Vice President, the Prime Minister of Italy does not agree with all of the sanctions plans.  He said yesterday that he does not feel that energy should be sanctioned.  Does that not undercut U.S. efforts to impose tough, painful, severe financial sanctions?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  As I’ve said, this is an alliance of nations that each have their priorities and their — their individual concerns about how anything we do going forward will impact their specific country, their economy, and their security.

 

So, again, I would not deny Italy from having its perspective or its list of concerns; we all do, actually.  That has been part of this process.  And so Italy is very much at the table in terms of these conversations about how we can do this in a way that achieves its intended purpose, which — back to the earlier point — is about deterring Russia from invading a sovereign nation.

 

And we all understand, including every country in Europe, what war in Europe looks like and what it can mean for the citizens of each of those countries.

Thank you.

END                  

11:34 A.M. CEST

 

Statement from Press Secretary Jen Psaki on President Biden’s Briefings on Ukraine

FEBRUARY 19, 2022

President Biden continues to monitor the evolving situation in Ukraine, and is being updated regularly about events on the ground by his national security team. They reaffirmed that Russia could launch an attack against Ukraine at any time.

This afternoon, the President received an update on the Vice President’s meetings at the Munich Security Conference with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, European Commission President von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg, leaders of the Baltic states (Prime Minister Kallas of Estonia, President Levits of Latvia, and President Nauseda of Lithuania), Chancellor Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Mitsotakis of Greece, and leaders of other Allies and partners.

Tomorrow, the President will convene a meeting of the National Security Council on the situation in Ukraine.

###

 

Remarks by Vice President Harris and President Zelenskyy Before Bilateral Meeting

FEBRUARY 19, 2022

Commerzbank Filiale München

Munich, Germany

2:12 P.M. CEST

 

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS:  I’m looking forward to our conversation. As you know, this is a decisive moment in our world’s history. And this is an important meeting for that and many other reasons.

I look forward, in this discussion, to hearing directly from you about the situation on the ground in Ukraine.  I look forward to, in this way, also hearing from you about what your concerns are and also sharing with you information that we may have in a way that we will continue to work together.

This is also a chance for me to reiterate the position of the United States as it relates to Ukraine.  As I have said earlier today to our allies around the world, the United States take seriously the importance of the integrity and the territorial integrity of Ukraine and your sovereignty.  And the United States stands with Ukraine in this regard.

If Russia further invades your country, as I mentioned earlier today, we will impose swift and severe economic sanctions.  We have been clear about that.  We are also clear that we would prefer that this would be resolved in a diplomatic way, and we have remained open to a diplomatic path to resolution.

However, if Russia takes aggressive action against Ukraine, we are prepared to implement and to do that work in a unified way with our allies around the world.

Any threats to your country, we take seriously, and we have rallied our Allies and our partners to speak with one voice.  And those voices have been reflected throughout the course of these last couple of days and before.  So I look forward to our conversation.  And thank you.

 

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY:  (As interpreted.)  Thank you very much, Madam Vice President.  And thank you for this meeting.  This is our first meeting, and I’m very grateful to you and to our team for having this opportunity to talk to you about the situation which is happening around our borders; about the risks and how to resolve this matter and, I do agree with you, in a peaceful and diplomatic manner, as we have been doing all eight years in a row.

We do clearly understand what is going on.  This is our land, and the only thing we want is to have peace, bring the peace back to our country.

And in this case, we are very grateful to the United States, to you personally, to our strategic partners, and President Biden.  We have had many meetings with the congressmen and Senate members.  And we are grateful for the bipartisan support of the United States.

Today, we do need specific steps, specific support.  We are getting support from you in supporting our defense capacity, our army.  This is something we are prepared to discuss and continue this dialogue because this is something that we are very interested in.

When I say “we,” I mean not only Ukraine, because our strong army is protecting Europe and we all want to be one unified body, one world which looks into the peaceful future.

As regards to the sanction policy, we are grateful to you for your understanding that sanctions may bring about peaceful resolution of this matter.  And I would like to share with you that what — how we see this, what we think the needs are, and what we think can work.

In any case, we believe in our own strengths and force, the support of our partners, our army.  And thank you very much again for this meeting.

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS:  Thank you.

END                 

2:16 P.M. CEST

 

Remarks by Vice President Harris at the Munich Security Conference

FEBRUARY 19, 2022

Hotel Bayerischer Hof

Munich, Germany

11:45 A.M. CEST

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good morning.  Good morning.  Thank you, Ambassador Ischinger.  And to all of the very extraordinary leaders who are here today, I thank you for the kind introduction and your years of dedicated leadership.  And thank you also to Chancellor Scholz for your kind words.

 

So, it is an honor to join all of these distinguished leaders from around the world this morning.

I am certain we all recognize this year’s gathering is unlike those of the recent past.  Not since the end of the Cold War has this forum convened under such dire circumstances.

 

Today, as we are all well aware, the foundation of European security is under direct threat in Ukraine.

 

Let us remember: From the wreckage of two world wars, a consensus emerged in Europe and the United States.  A consensus in favor of order, not chaos; security, not conflict.

 

So by forging relationships and bonds, forging organizations and institutions, laws and treaties, we, together, established a set of rules, norms that have governed ever since.

 

And Europe has enjoyed unprecedented peace, security, and prosperity through a commitment to a set of defining principles.  The United States is equally committed to these principles: that people have a right to choose their own form of government; that nations have a right to choose their own alliances; that there are inalienable rights which governments must protect; that the rule of law should be cherished; that sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be respected; and that national borders should not be changed by force.  (Applause.)

 

We are here in Munich, together, to reaffirm our commitment to these principles.  These principles have brought us peace and security.  The backbone of this, of course, is NATO — the greatest military alliance the world has ever seen.

 

As a defensive alliance, we have deterred acts of aggression against NATO territory for the past 75 years.  And today, let me be clear: America’s commitment to Article 5 is ironclad.  This commitment is sacrosanct to me, to President Biden, and to our entire nation.  

 

In fact, I am joined here in Munich by a bipartisan delegation from the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives.  They are Democrats and Republicans.  They have a wide range of political views.  But they stand together in recognition of the value and the importance of our NATO Alliance.

 

Now, even in the most difficult times for our transatlantic community and even when our system has been tried and tested, we, the United States and Europe, have come together and demonstrated our strength and our unity, just as we do today — as we stand in this decisive moment, with all eyes on Ukraine.

 

As we have said all along, there is a playbook of Russian aggression.  And this playbook is too familiar to us all.

Russia will plead ignorance and innocence, it will create false pretext for invasion, and it will amass troops and firepower in plain sight.

 

We now receive reports of what appears to be provocations.  And we see Russia spreading disinformation, lies, and propaganda.

 

Nonetheless, in a deliberate and coordinated effort, we, together, are: one, exposing the truth and, two, speaking with a unified voice.

 

As President Joe Biden has made clear: The United States, our NATO Allies, and our partners have been and remain open to serious diplomacy.  We have put concrete proposals on the table.  We have encouraged and engaged Russia through NATO, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the United Nations, and bilateral dialogues.  We have engaged in good faith.

Russia continues to claim it is ready for talks while, at the same time, it narrows the avenues for diplomacy.  Their actions simply do not match their words.

 

And let me be clear.  I can say with absolute certainty: If Russia further invades Ukraine, the United States, together with our Allies and partners, will impose significant and unprecedented economic costs.  (Applause.)

 

We have worked intensively with many of you in this room to ensure we are prepared to move forward with consequences.

 

We have prepared, together, economic measures that will be swift, severe, and united.  We will impose far-reaching financial sanctions and export controls.  We will target Russia’s financial institutions and key industries.  And we will target those who are complicit and those who aid and abet this unprovoked invasion.

 

Make no mistake: The imposition of these sweeping and coordinated measures will inflict great damage on those who must be held accountable.  And we will not stop with economic measures.  We will further reinforce our NATO Allies on the eastern flank.

 

In fact, together we have already taken steps to strengthen our deterrence and collective defense.  We have deployed an additional 6,000 American service members to Romania, Poland, and Germany.  We have put another 8,500 service members in the United States on a heightened sense of readiness.

 

As President Biden has said, our forces will not be deployed to fight inside Ukraine, but they will defend every inch of NATO territory.

 

Since Russia launched its proxy war against Ukraine nearly eight years ago, the people of Ukraine have suffered immensely: nearly 14,000 people killed, more than a million displaced, and nearly 3 million in need of aid.

 

The United States has provided significant support to Ukraine: security assistance, humanitarian assistance, and economic assistance.  And we will continue to support the people of Ukraine.   

 

I believe it is important for us — all of us — as leaders to never forget the cost of this type of aggression on human lives and livelihoods.

 

So, the United States, our Allies, and our partners, together, we have achieved remarkable unity.  It is evident in our shared acknowledgment of the threats, our united response, and our determination to uphold international rules and norms.

 

In the face of Russian aggression, I have been reassured and heartened by the widespread agreement across the transatlantic community that these rules and norms will be defended.

 

And we should not lose sight of how rare it is in history to have a prolonged period of relative peace and stability.  So, let the past few months be a reminder to us all: Defending the rules and norms, upholding our principles — this is the vital work of each generation.

 

In recent years, some have questioned whether the West is up to the task.  Some have wondered whether this system can endure.  Some have even done so on this very stage.

 

Indeed, the theme of this conference two years ago questioned the staying power of the West; whether or not the transatlantic community was losing its cohesion, its influence, its appeal.

 

So I will answer the skeptics and those seeking to test us: Today, the United States, our Allies, and our partners are closer together.  Today, we are clear in our purpose.  And today, we are even more confident in our vision.

 

Our strength must not be underestimated, because, after all, it lies in our unity.  And as we have always shown, it takes a lot more strength to build something up than it takes to tear something down.

 

Thank you all.  (Applause.)

AMBASSADOR ISCHINGER:  Madam Vice President, thank you so much for this great speech, which I think will be commented about and read about quite a bit in coming hours and days and weeks.

Before we start our conversation, let me repeat what I said before you came into the hall.  It was in 2009, President Biden who established — having just been elected Vice President at that time — a young tradition, namely that the United States would be represented in Munich by the Vice President.

And he came several times.  And I was delighted to see that even the Trump administration followed that example.  And we’re now so happy to have you to continue this tradition.  And I would be delighted if you can convey to the President that even if he is now no longer the Vice President, he has always a standing invitation here.  (Laughter.)

 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yes, Ambassador, I will.  And I will tell you, it is the President’s enthusiasm about the importance of this conference that led to my enthusiasm to be with you this afternoon.  So thank you very much.

 

AMBASSADOR ISCHINGER:  Now, on a slightly more serious note: A year ago, when the President appeared on our screen — actually, in this room — I was standing right here in this room when he appeared on screen and he said, and I quote, “America is back.  The transatlantic alliance is back.”

Now, that was a message that was extremely well received here, even if we — not all of us knew that we would be threatened in the way that we feel threatened right now, as you just explained.

But as we look forward, there are lots of people here in Germany, in Europe, who asking themselves, “Okay, America is back.  That’s great.  But is it for good?  Is this for good?”  Many in Europe are fearful of a time where maybe some kind of a second Trump could be looming in the future.

So here’s my question: What can or should we Europeans do to keep the United States engaged in Europe long term, not just today as we sit here, and even beyond the current administration?

 

I think that is such an important question, because we have learned over these last weeks and months that without the United States considering herself a European power, we’re actually quite powerless.

 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I think the evidence of the point that I will make is present in this room.  You will see there is probably one of the largest delegations from the United States Congress present today — Republicans and Democrats who, as I said earlier, you know, often don’t agree on much, but agree on this.

I would — I think that the heart of your question really does demand the importance of — of the perseverance and enduring nature of institutions and alliances.  And I would say that, on that point, we are strong.

There is an unwavering commitment to NATO and to the Alliance, as evidenced, again, by the conversations and the unity that has resulted over the last several months where nations have come together, where the United States, we would like to believe, has been among leaders in playing a leadership role to bring together the Allies around common principles and norms, doing it in a way that has been, at its essence, about the value and the strength of diplomacy, which is about direct engagement.

We have counted — and the Secretary of State is here, Tony Blinken.  We’ve counted an excess of at least 200 conversations just in the last couple of months, be it between the President and others, the Secretary of State, myself, and so on.

So I would say to you that the relationship is strong and that the importance of the relationship is something that we take very seriously, which is why in this historic moment, in this defining moment, potentially, the strength of the institution and the Alliance reveals itself, even if there’s been a question about that before.

 

AMBASSADOR ISCHINGER:  Thank you so much.

 

Now, another key team — key theme of our special edition with President Biden a year ago was this question, and I’d be interested in your response today.  The question was: Can democracies prove that they can still deliver better solutions to the world’s major challenges than autocracies?

There are skeptics who would probably not have a hard time finding evidence to the contrary over the past period.  What do we need, what do democracies need in order to do better and to convince our people — peoples that we can do it?

 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Ambassador, I think this is one of the most challenging issues of our time, which is the relative strength — the question about the relative strength, efficiency, and effectiveness of democracies versus autocracies.

 

I’m going to always bet on democracies.  I think all of us here share that in common.  And it is a reflection of, again, the principles that we have that include the importance of being a government that reflects the needs and desires of the people through a process that has integrity, that rejects corruption, and embraces the concepts of equality and freedom.

 

When we look at the challenge that we face now, in the United States — and you’re right, President Joe Biden talks a lot about this — and we take pride in the fact that the strength of a democra- — democracy, one measure of that strength will be: Does it deliver on the needs of the people?

 

So, for example, in the United States — again, with thanks and with great attribution to the congressional delegates that are here — we passed a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that was one of the first in generations that will deliver on the needs of the people.

 

So, I would say that the strength of democracies and the way that democracies will prevail, one — one measure of that will be: Does it actually deliver for the people?

 

But that being said, there is a duality that is always present, I believe, which is that democracy is both — it both has the characters of — characteristics of strength and fragility, meaning that it is incumbent on each of us to understand the strength of democracy to deliver for the people, but also the fragility of democracies, which is that if we are not vigilant, if we don’t fight for the principles, then they can fade.

 

And so, that, again, brings us to the reason that we are here today: to continuously reaffirm and rededicate ourselves as a community to the strength of democracies and the need for us to not only individually but collectively uphold its principles, its values, and its purpose.

 

AMBASSADOR ISCHINGER:  Thank you very much.  Now, I think I have no choice but to return to our overriding theme this weekend, which has been when Secretary Stoltenberg spoke earlier and Chancellor Scholz spoke just before you.  Of course, the central theme was — and you talked about it just a few minutes ago — was Ukraine.

 

So, the Biden administration, the President himself, you — you’ve all stated that you expect that there will be some kind of military action by Russia going forward.  Now, I — personally, I’ve no question about your determination to do what you announced to do.

But I think this audience would be interested in how you and the Biden administration judges our readiness.  Do you think we, Europeans, are sufficiently prepared for such a kind of worst-case scenario, which would — in my view at least, which would tend to sort of, you know, terminate the search for a durable and peaceful European security architecture?  And we’ve been working on that for more than a generation — for two generations.

 

So, the question is: If you could reflect a bit about how you think about this and what, conceivably, Americans and Europeans — working together — what we could do in the future even better in terms of speaking with Russia, not only about Russia.

 

You know, one of the things I really regret is that the Russian government decided not to come here.  I would have appreciated an opportunity to challenge them on this stage, as has been the case for many years here Munich.

 

So — but I think you understand my question.

 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, as I said in my speech, I am reassured and heartened by the work that we have collectively done over the last several months.  And it is work.  Not everyone started out in the same place in terms of a variety of issues that are on the table.  How do we define “aggression”?  What should be the consequences?  Which consequences are appropriate?  Which are we willing to pursue?  Which aren’t we willing to pursue?  So we didn’t all start out in the same place.

 

But through diplomacy — and again, this speaks to the strength of diplomacy — we came together and are now speaking with a unified voice.  And that voice was a function of not only dialogue, but debate, some concessions, but also a practical realization of the moment that we’re in, which is that we are looking at a sovereign nation that may very well be on the verge of being invaded yet again.

 

And perhaps this is a moment, as life does present us with those moments, that challenge us to ask what is our reason for being.  And I think we all know the history of NATO and its reason for being.  The spirit behind this term we use, “the transatlantic community.”  The word “community,” meaning a collection, not — a collection of individuals who see themselves as a collection than as one.  And that’s where we are now.

 

I don’t disagree with you that it would be nice if we were presented with other circumstances, be it at this conference or in the world, but that’s not where we are.

 

We remain open to diplomacy.  We have said it continuously, and our deeds, our words, and our actions have reflected that priority.

We believe that when you define the strength of any nation — certainly I’ll speak for the United States — we believe it is an expression of our strength to seek, as a first priority, a diplomatic resolution to any conflict.  And I believe we’ve been clear about that.  But yet, we are presented with this moment today.

And so the question is: If that diplomacy leads to a dead end — we hope it does not; I said that again in my speech today, the President said it last night — we are still open to a diplomatic resolution.  But if it does not, we are also clear-eyed that there must be consequences.

 

And so we have clearly articulated the consequences we have in store, and they will be severe and swift.  And they were derived through a process, again, of diplomatic discussions and engagement wherein there has been some consensus around what would be appropriate, given perhaps some predictable scenarios.

I think this moment speaks to, yes, a moment we would like to avoid, if it was avoidable, but it also speaks to our resolve to speak with one voice and a unified voice.

History has challenged us over the years in that regard.  But I think history will show that, at this moment, we are standing strong.  (Applause.)

 

AMBASSADOR ISCHINGER:  Madam Vice President, I can only thank you on behalf of our participants of this audience and of those who are listening from the outside for traveling over — for coming over here in these difficult circumstances with pandemic conditions.  You know, under more normal circumstances, there would be like 600 people in this hall.  It would be totally overcrowded.  So thank you for doing this.

Thank you for doing this for us.  For us here in Europe, it’s — it’s an enormously reassuring message.

 

And I want to invite all of you to offer to the Vice President of the United States a warm round of applause, if you could, please.  (Applause.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.

END                12:14 P.M. CEST

 

Remarks by President Biden Providing an Update on Russia and Ukraine

FEBRUARY 18, 2022•SPEECHES AND REMARKS

Roosevelt Room

4:54 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon.  Today, I made two vital calls, as I’ve been making for some months now — two vital calls that — on the situation in Russia and Ukraine.

The first was to a bipartisan group of members of Congress who are currently representing the United States, along with Vice President Harris at the Munich Security Conference.

The second was the latest in a series of calls over the past many months with the heads of state of our NATO Allies and the European Union to bring them up to date on what the United States thinks is the current state of affairs, and what’s likely to happen in Ukraine in the coming days, to ensure that we continue to remain in lockstep — that is the European Union and NATO.

Despite Russia’s efforts to divide us at home and abroad, I can affirm that has not happened.  The overwhelming message of both — on both calls was one of unity, determination, and resolve.  I shared with all of those on the calls what we know about a rapidly escalating crisis in Ukraine.

Over the last few days, we’ve seen reports of a major uptick in violations of the ceasefire by Russian-backed fighters attempting to provoke Ukraine in the Donbas.  For example, a shelling of a Ukrainian kindergarten yesterday, which Russia has falsely asserted was carried out by Ukraine.  We also continue to see more and more disinformation being pushed out by — to the Russian public, including the Russian-backed separatists, claiming that Ukraine is planning to launch a massive offensive attack in the Donbas.

Well, look, there is simply no evidence of these assertions, and it and devies [sic] — it defies basic logic to believe the Ukrainians would choose this moment, with well over 150,000 troops arrayed on its borders, to escalate a year-long conflict.

Russia state media also continues to make phony allegations of a genocide taking place in the Donbas and push fabricated claims warning about Ukraine’s attack on Russia without any evidence.  That’s just what I’m sure Ukraine is thinking of doing — attacking Russia.

All these are consistent with the playbook the Russians have used before: to set up a false justification to act against Ukraine.  This is also in line with the pretext scenarios that the United States and our Allies and partners have been warning about for weeks.

Throughout these tense moments, the Ukrainian forces have shown great judgment and, I might add, restraint.  They’ve refused to allow the Russians to bait them into war.

But the fact remains: Russian troops currently have Ukraine surrounded — from Belarus, along the Russian border with Ukraine, to the Black Sea in the south — and all of its border.

You know, look, we have reason to believe the Russian forces are planning to and intend to attack Ukraine in the coming week — in the coming days.  We believe that they will target Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, a city of 2.8 million innocent people.

We’re calling out Russia’s plans loudly and repeatedly, not because we want a conflict, but because we’re doing everything in our power to remove any reason that Russia may give to justify invading Ukraine and prevent them from moving.

Make no mistake: If Russia pursues its plans, it will be responsible for a catastrophic and needless war of choice.  The United States and our Allies are prepared to defend every inch of NATO territory from any threat to our collective security as well.

We also will not send troops in to fight in Ukraine, but we will continue to support the Ukrainian people.

This past year, the United States provided a record amount of security assistance to Ukraine to bolster its defensive — $650 million, from Javelin missiles to ammunition.

And we also previously provided $500 million in Ukrai- — in humanitarian aid and economic support for Ukraine.  And earlier this week, we also announced an additional sovereign loan guarantee of up to $1 billion to strengthen Ukraine’s economic resilience.

But the bottom line is this: The United States and our Allies and partners will support the Ukrainian people.  We will hold Russia accountable for its actions.  The West is united and resolved.  We’re ready to impose severe sanctions on Russia if it further invades Ukraine.

But I say again: Russia can still choose diplomacy.  It is not too late to de-escalate and return to the negotiating table.

Last night, Russia agreed that Secretary of State Blinken and Foreign Minister Lavrov should meet on Feb- — on February 24th — February 24th in Europe.

But if Russia takes military action before that date, it will be clear that they have slammed the door shut on diplomacy.  They will have — they will have chosen war, and they will pay a steep price for doing so — not only from the sanctions that we and our allies will impose on Russia, but the moral outrage that the rest of the world will visit upon them.

You know, there are many issues that divide our nation and our world, but standing up to Russian aggression is not one of them.  The American people are united.  Europe is united.  The transatlantic community is united.  Our political parties in this country are united.  The entire free world is united.

Russia has a choice between war and all the suffering it will bring or diplomacy that will make a future safer for everyone.

Now I’m happy to take a few questions.  Nancy from Bloomberg.

Q    Thank you so much, sir.  Do you think that it is wise for President Zelenskyy to leave Ukraine if an invasion is as imminent as the U.S. says it is?

THE PRESIDENT:  That’s a judgment for him to make and a determination as to whether or not.

I’ve spoken with Zelenskyy a dozen times — maybe more, I don’t know.  And — and it’s — and in the pursuit of a diplomatic solution, it may not be fal- — it may be the wise choice.  But it’s his decision.

Q    And do you have any indication about whether President Putin has made a decision on whether to invade?  Do you feel confident that he — that he hasn’t made that decision already?

THE PRESIDENT:  As of this moment, I’m convinced he’s made the decision.  We have reason to believe that.

Q    There seems to be a unanimity, a spirit to do — between the United States and Europe to do some sanctions — comprehensive sanctions.  But are — is everyone on board with the exact same sanctions that you want to do?

THE PRESIDENT:  Yes.  There will be some slight differences, but none — there will be more add-ons than subtractions.

Q    And President Putin is going to oversee some nuclear drills this weekend.  How do you see that happening?  What’s your reaction to that, sir?  Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I don’t think he is remotely contemplating nuclear — using nuclear weapons.  But I do think it’s — I think he is focused on trying to convince the world that he has the ability to change the dynamics in Europe in a way that he cannot.

But I don’t — how much of it is a cover for just saying, “We’re just doing exercises” and there’s more than that, I just can’t — it’s hard to read his mind.

(Cross-talk.)

Q    To be clear — to be clear, you are convinced —

THE PRESIDENT:  I’ll — I’ll take some.

Q    — you are convinced — you are convinced that President Putin is going to invade Ukraine?  Is that what you just said a few moments ago?

THE PRESIDENT:  Yes, I did.  Yes.

Q    So, is diplomacy off the table then?

THE PRESIDENT:  No.  There’s always — until he does, diplomacy is always a possibility.

Q    What reason do you have to believe he is considering that option at all?

THE PRESIDENT:  We have a significant intelligence capability.  Thank you very much.

5:03 P.M. EST

 

-----------------
On 21 February 2022, Russia officially recognised the two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic as independent states, and deployed troops to Donbas, in a move interpreted as Russia's effective withdrawal from the Minsk Protocol.  The breakaway republics were recognised in the boundaries of their respective Ukrainian oblasts, which extend far beyond the line of contact.   On 22 February, Putin said that the Minsk agreements were no longer valid.  On the same day, the Federation Council unanimously authorised the use of military force in the territories.

The on going crisis stems from the protracted Russo-Ukrainian War that began in early 2014. In December 2021, Russia advanced two draft treaties that contained requests for what it referred to as "security guarantees", including a legally binding promise that Ukraine would not join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as well as a reduction in NATO troops and military hardware stationed in Eastern Europe, and threatened unspecified military response if those demands were not met in full. NATO has rejected these requests, and the United States warned Russia of "swift and severe" economic sanctions should it further invade Ukraine.  The crisis has also centred around the ongoing war in Donbas and has been described by some commentators as one of the most intense in Europe since the Cold War.

In March and April 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian military to begin massing thousands of military personnel and equipment near its border with Ukraine and in Crimea, representing the largest mobilization since the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014

 

This precipitated an international crisis and generated concerns over a potential invasion. Satellite imagery showed movements of armour, missiles, and heavy weaponry.  The troops were partially removed by June.  The crisis was renewed in October and November 2021, when over 100,000 Russian troops were again massed surrounding Ukraine on three sides by December.

The United States established diplomatic relations with Ukraine in 1991, following its independence from the Soviet Union.

 

 

Sources:Youtube, White House, Yahoo, US Ambassy in Ukraine ,and wikipedia, abc news, MSNBC, WION, DW, PBS, CNN, Fox News, Poland New, Arirang News, Vatican News, Twitter, and UN, BBC News, International EL PAIS, AFB, Getty Images, CBS, Yahoo
60 Minutes Australia, wikipedia, White House, google, Time Now,Guardian  Military future, NATO, Actual News,

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February 22nd, 2022

Rev. March 14, 2022, Rev March 19th, 2022, Rev Marc 2022

Rev. March 27, 2022, Rev April 3rd, 2022,Rev April  9th, 2022, Rev. April 10th, 2022,

Rev. May  19, 2022, August 24, 2022, Rev. May  19, 2022, August 25, 2022,
September 30th, October 8th, 2022 Rev. October 11th, Rev. October 18th, 2022, Rev December 4th, 2022

White House, Guidian News, ABC News, C-SPAN: December 21st , 2022 Rev. Dec. 23rd, 2022

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