SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE
What did Joe Biden say in his speech today, Thursday, February 24?
PRESIDENT Joe Biden spoke on the Russian war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
His speech addressed the Russian invasion at the Ukrainian border and introduced new sanctions against Russia.
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What did Joe Biden say in his speech?
President Joe Biden addressed the nation at 1.30pm EST on February 24, 2022.
His speech discussed the new sanctions he is imposing on Russia amidst the country's invasion of Ukraine.
Biden previously said he would impose additional sanctions against Russia if diplomacy failed.
The new restrictions include further cutting off Russia's major financial institutions from US assistance and will focus other financial restrictions on Putin's inner circle.
Biden announced he is implementing more sanctions that the US and other NATO alliances have designed to have the "maximum long-term impact on Russia."
He said 27 countries in total are working together to "amplify a joint impact response."
Together, NATO has limited Russia's ability to deal in dollar, euro, yen, and pounds.
The US has sanctioned Russian banks that hold $1trillion in assets and cut off it's largest bank A.V.T which holds one-third of Russia's banking as well as adding the names of Russian elites, "people who will personally gain from the Kremlin's policies."
Biden said the US is blocking four of Russia's major banks and every Russian asset in America has been frozen.
The US and its NATO alliances will stop Russia from "raising money from the US and former investors" and will squeeze Russia's access to finances and 21st-Century technology.
The "profound sanctions" Biden imposed will impact Russia and while he said the US government will know in a month if they are working, he added, "If we don't move against him now, he will be emboldened."
The newly imposed sanctions will "cut off more than half of Russia's high tech imports and ... will hurt their ability to build ships to compete economically.
Biden said these sanctions are the result of Russian President Vladimir Putin rejecting "every good faith effort to avoid needless conflict and avoid human suffering."
Putin has "staged a political theater in Moscow that Ukraine was going to invade and launch a war against Russia, use chemical weapons, and commit genocide," Biden said, adding that Putin did so without evidence.
The Kremlin's actions were "never about genuine security concerns," Biden said, "But Putin's desire for empire by any means necessary. Ultimately choosing war without a cause."
The US has provided Ukraine with $650million in assistance and "will provide humanitarian relief to ease suffering."
Biden concluded his speech and said, "This aggression cannot go unanswered, if it did, the consequences for America would be worse."
"America stands up to bullies. we stand up to freedom. This is who we are.
"... Putin's choice to make an unjustifiable war will make Russia weaker and leave the world strong.
"Freedom will prevail."
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Biden released a statement on The White House website early on Thursday, February 24, after speaking with Ukrainian President who asked him to stand up for his nation.
"(Zelensky) asked me to call on the leaders of the world to speak out clearly against President Putin’s flagrant aggression, and to stand with the people of Ukraine," Biden said in the statement.
He added, "We will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people."
What US sanctions has Joe Biden already imposed?
In President Joe Biden's speech on February 22, he said the new sanctions against Russia will include "full blocking" for two of Russia's largest financial institutions.
“That means we’ve cut off Russia’s government from Western finance,” Biden said during his speech on February 24. “It can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade in its new debt on our markets or European markets either.”
Biden said the new sanctions will be directed at Russian elite families, adding, "They share in the corrupt games of the Kremlin policies and should share in the pain as well."
What is happening in Ukraine?
Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine after months of building its military presence outside the border.
Missiles have been launched on military infrastructures in Ukraine including an airport in Western Ukraine.
At 5.55am Moscow time, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the orders for the invasion of the Eastern Donbas area of Ukraine, claiming self-defense.
His goal, he said, was to "de-Nazify" the region and told the Ukrainian military to lay down their weapons. Putin said those who don't return to their homes and instead fight would be met with an "instant" response.
In a televised speech, Putin said, "Our actions are self-defense against threats,” and claimed he did not have plans to occupy Ukraine. He added, “We do not plan to impose ourselves on anyone."
However, in Chuhuyiv, an Eastern town of Ukraine, bombs dropped by Russia destroyed much of the town, creating panic and resulting in many civilian injuries and deaths.
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“ ... Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so, to create threats for our country, for our people, should know that Russia’s response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences that you have never experienced in your history," Putin said.
“We are ready for any development of events. All necessary decisions in this regard have been made.”
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