The US President has announced further punitive measures against Russia.
(Photo: AP)
Washington The US has announced new sanctions against Russia because of the dramatic escalation in the Ukraine conflict. The punitive measures will target two major banks, Russian government bond traders and supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday.
He also promised Ukraine and the Baltic States further military aid and troop deployments. “The United States, meanwhile, will continue to provide defense assistance to Ukraine, and we will continue to strengthen our NATO allies,” Biden said. “I have authorized additional movements of US forces and equipment already deployed to Europe.”
After the latest escalation, Biden continues to expect a large-scale attack by Russia on the neighboring country. “We continue to believe that Russia is ready to go significantly further and launch a massive military strike against Ukraine,” Biden said. The US President interpreted Moscow’s recognition of the so-called People’s Republics of Luhansk and Donetsk and the planned deployment of Russian troops in the eastern Ukrainian regions as the “beginning of an invasion” into Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin provides “a justification for the violent capture of additional areas.”
On Monday evening, Putin recognized the independence of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin chief also ordered Russian soldiers to be sent to eastern Ukraine.
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More: Current developments on the Ukraine crisis in the live blog