The president of the United States, Joe Biden, summoned his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Tuesday, arguing that the recognition of the independence of the separatist republics of Donetsk and Lugansk meant the “beginning of an invasion of Ukraine.”
US President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday the imposition of the first round of economic sanctions once morest Russiawith the aim of isolating Vladimir Putin and Moscow from the Western financial system, amid tensions with Ukraine.
“This is the beginning of an invasion of Ukraine (…) So I am going to start imposing sanctions in response,” Biden said in a speech from the White House.
In this sense, the head of state stated that “If Russia goes further with this invasion, we will go further with sanctions”.
“Who in the name of the Lord does Putin think gives him the right to declare the existence of new ‘countries’ on territory belonging to his neighbors? This is a flagrant violation of international law.”said the US president.
Likewise, he specified that a month ago he told Putin “to his face” that the allies “we would act together at the moment when Russia went once morest Ukraine”.
“Russia has gone once morest Ukraine by declaring these independent states”he asserted.
Joe Biden did not stop there, stating that “I have authorized troops in Europe to strengthen our allies.”
The sanctions come shortly following Russia recognized the independence of the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luganskin eastern Ukraine, and authorize the sending of Russian troops to Donbas.
EU sanctions on Russia prior to Biden summoning Putin over Ukraine
The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, announced on Tuesday that the ministers of those portfolios of the countries belonging to the EU unanimously agreed in Paris a first package of sanctions once morest Russia.
“We have unanimously agreed on a first package of sanctions,” Le Drian said at a press conference with the European High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.
The sanctions, which must be formally approved in the EU, affect a series of 27 entities and peopleincluding decision makers who have played an important role in attacking Ukraine’s sovereignty, explained Borrell.
In addition, Russia’s financial access “to our financial and capital markets” will be limited, especially to prevent it from being able to finance its debt on European markets, he added.
