Biden news - live: President speaks with Zelensky amid warnings Putin’s forces could storm Kyiv within hours
Follow the latest updates on President Joe Biden’s address to the nation about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
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Your support makes all the difference.President Joe Biden has called Russian president Vladimir Putin an “aggressor” who “chose this war” as he announced a series of “major” sanctions against Russia for invading Ukraine.
Mr Biden said the sanctions will have a “long-term” impact on Moscow as the US was restricting large Russian banks and targeting families who are close to the Kremlin.
Mr Biden’s address to the nation came after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday morning with a series of missile attacks on cities including the capital Kiev.
Since then, dozens of Ukrainians have been killed, civilians are fleeing their homes, global markets have plunged and Russian forces have seized the site of the Chernobyl nuclear plant.
The United Nations meanwhile is expected to vote on a US-drafted resolution condemning Russia on Friday.
Though the resolution is likely to fail with Russia exercising its veto, US and its allies want to send the message that Russia stands isolated for its actions.
In addition, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley has also also had a phone conversation with allies in Europe today to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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Biden: G7 ‘agreed to move forward on devastating packages of sanctions’ against Russia
Mr Biden tweeted on Thursday afternoon that the G7 leaders had together “agreed to move forward on devastating packages of sanctions” against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
“This morning, I met with my G7 counterparts to discuss President Putin’s unjustified attack on Ukraine and we agreed to move forward on devastating packages of sanctions and other economic measures to hold Russia to account,” he tweeted.
“We stand with the brave people of Ukraine.”
The president met virtually with the other leaders on Thursday morning ET and is about to address the American people about the US’s plans to crack down on Russia.
US doesn’t rule out possibility of Russia ‘lashing out’ with cyber attack on America
Officials are not ruling out the possibility that Russia could retaliate against sanctions imposed by the US by targeting American companies or infrastructure in cyber attacks.
House Intelligence Committee Chair Rep Adam Schiff admitted in a press briefing on Thursday that there are concerns that “Russian tools” used to carry out cyber attacks in Ukraine will extend beyond the country.
“The other possibility is that Putin lashes out at the United Sates and NATO and in this hybrid warfare that they use cyber stools to attack American companies or American infrastructure,” he said.
“We have to hope and pray that doesn’t happen but in warfare there is always the risk of escalation.”
The congressman said that American companies should focus on best practices in cyber security to reduce risks of falling foul to an attack.
Top Republicans break rank from Trump and condemn Putin
Several top Republicans have broken rank with Donald Trump and condemned the actions of Mr Putin - after the former president called the Russian president a “genius”.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy squarely placed the blame for the invasion of Ukraine on Mr Putin’s shoulders in a statement on Twitter.
“Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is reckless and evil,” he said.
“The United States stands with the people of Ukraine and prays for their safety and resolve. Putin’s actions must be met with serious consequence.
“This act of war is intended to rewrite history and more concerning, upend the balance of power in Europe. Putin must be held accountable for his actions.”
Ahead of the invasion, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also condemned Mr Putin and urged Mr Biden to take necessary action.
Mr Trump heaped praise on Mr Putin on Tuesday, calling his move to recognise two regions of Ukraine as independent “genius”.
Read the full story here:
Top Republicans condemn Russian invasion – days after Trump called Putin a ‘genius’
A few senior GOP figures criticise Biden during the invasion, but most refrain from taking same tack as Trump
Rep Adam Schiff says US will ‘dramatically escalate’ sanctions on ‘dictator’ Putin
California Rep Adam Schiff has said the US will “dramatically escalate” sanctions on Russia in response to the “full-on invasion” of Ukraine by “dictator” Mr Putin.
The House Intelligence Committee Chair said in a press conference in the US Capitol on Thursday that the US needs to sanction Russian banks, cut off its access to Western capital and “sophisticated technology” and roll out more restrictions on Russian oligarchs.
“We need to dramatically escalate the sanctions that we place on Russia for this act of naked aggression by the Kremlin dictator,” he said.
“We need to move to sanction the largest banks in Russia, we have to cut off Russia from the international financial system and its ability to access Western capital.
“We need to attack its ability to gather sophisticated technology for its weapon systems.
“We have to go after more of its oligarchs and we need to continue to strengthen our NATO defences in the region.”
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