East Room
3:29 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. At this time, I’d like to offer an replace on the disaster involving Russia and Ukraine.
From the start of this disaster, I’ve been completely clear and constant: America is ready it doesn’t matter what occurs.
We’re prepared with diplomacy — to be engaged in diplomacy with Russia and our Allies and companions to enhance stability and safety in Europe as an entire.
And we’re prepared to reply decisively to a Russian assault on Ukraine, which remains to be very a lot a chance.
By the entire occasions of the previous couple of weeks and months, this has been our strategy. And it stays our strategy now.
So, right now I need to communicate to the American individuals in regards to the scenario on the bottom, the steps we’ve taken, the actions we’re ready to take, and what’s at stake for us and the world, and the way this may occasionally impression on us right here at residence.
For weeks now, along with our Allies and companions, my administration has engaged in continuous diplomacy.
This weekend I spoke once more with President Putin to clarify that we’re able to hold pursuing high-level diplomacy to achieve written understandings amongst Russia, the US, and the nations of Europe to deal with legit safety issues if that’s what — his want. Their safety issues and ours.
President Putin and I agreed that our groups ought to proceed to interact towards this finish together with our European Allies and companions.
Yesterday, the Russian authorities publicly proposed to proceed the diplomacy. I agree. We must always give the diplomacy each probability to succeed. I consider there are actual methods to deal with our respective safety issues.
America has placed on the desk concrete concepts to determine a safety atmosphere in Europe.
We’re proposing new arms management measures, new transparency measures, new strategic stability measures. These measures would apply to all events — NATO and Russia alike.
And we’re keen to make sensible, results-oriented steps that may advance our frequent safety. We won’t sacrifice primary rules, although.
Nations have a proper to sovereignty and territorial integrity. They’ve the liberty to set their very own course and select with whom they are going to affiliate.
However that also leaves loads of room for diplomacy and for de-escalation. That’s the easiest way ahead for all events, in our view. And we’ll proceed our diplomatic efforts in shut session with our Allies and our companions.
So long as there may be hope of a diplomatic decision that forestalls using pressure and avoids the unimaginable human struggling that will comply with, we’ll pursue it.
The Russian Protection Ministry reported right now that some army models are leaving their positions close to Ukraine.
That will be good, however we have now not but verified that. We’ve not but verified that Russian army models are returning to their residence bases. Certainly, our analysts point out that they continue to be very a lot in a threatening place. And the very fact stays: Proper now, Russia has greater than 150,000 troops encircling Ukraine in Belarus and alongside Ukraine’s border.
An invasion stays distinctly doable. That’s why I’ve requested a number of occasions that every one Individuals in Ukraine depart now earlier than it’s too late to go away safely. It’s why we have now quickly relocated our embassy from Kyiv to Lviv in western Ukraine, approaching the Polish border.
And we’ve been clear with the American individuals and with the world about Russia’s plans and the seriousness of the scenario so that everybody can see for themselves what is occurring. We’ve shared what we all know and what we’re doing about it.
Let me be equally clear about what we’re not doing:
America and NATO are usually not a risk to Russia. Ukraine just isn’t threatening Russia.
Neither the U.S. nor NATO have missiles in Ukraine. We don’t — shouldn’t have plans to place them there as properly.
We’re not concentrating on the individuals of Russia. We don’t search to destabilize Russia.
To the residents of Russia: You aren’t our enemy. And I don’t consider you need a bloody, harmful struggle in opposition to Ukraine — a rustic and a individuals with whom you share such deep ties of household, historical past, and tradition.
Seventy-seven years in the past, our individuals fought and sacrificed facet by facet to finish the worst struggle in historical past.
World Warfare Two was a struggle of necessity. But when Russia assaults Ukraine, it will be a struggle of alternative, or a struggle with out trigger or motive.
I say these items to not provoke however to talk the reality — as a result of the reality issues; accountability issues.
If Russia does invade within the days or perhaps weeks forward, the human value for Ukraine might be immense, and the strategic value for Russia may even be immense.
If Russia assaults Ukraine, it’ll be met with overwhelming worldwide condemnation. The world won’t neglect that Russia selected pointless dying and destruction.
Invading Ukraine will show to be a self-inflicted wound.
America and our Allies and companions will reply decisively. The West is united and galvanized.
At this time, our NATO Allies and the Alliance is as unified and decided because it has ever been. And the supply of our unbreakable power continues to be the facility, resilience, and common attraction of our shared democratic values.
As a result of that is about extra than simply Russia and Ukraine. It’s about standing for what we consider in, for the longer term we would like for our world, for liberty — for liberty, the precise of numerous international locations to decide on their very own future, and the precise of individuals to find out their very own futures, for the precept {that a} nation can’t change its neighbor’s borders by pressure. That’s our imaginative and prescient. And towards that finish, I’m assured that imaginative and prescient, that freedom will prevail.
If Russia proceeds, we’ll rally the world to oppose its aggression.
America and our Allies and companions around the globe are able to impose highly effective sanctions on [and] export controls, together with actions that didn’t — we didn’t pursue when Russia invaded Crimea and japanese Ukraine in 2014. We are going to put intense stress on their largest and most important monetary establishments and key industries.
These measures are able to go as quickly and if Russia strikes. We’ll impose long-term penalties that may undermine Russia’s skill to compete economically and strategically.
And in relation to Nord Stream 2, the pipeline that will convey pure fuel from Russia to Germany, if Russia additional invades Ukraine, it won’t occur.
Whereas I cannot ship American servicemen to battle Russia in Ukraine, we have now equipped the Ukrainian army with tools to assist them defend themselves. We’ve supplied coaching and recommendation and intelligence for a similar function.
And make no mistake: America will defend each inch of NATO territory with the total pressure of American energy. An assault in opposition to one NATO nation is an assault in opposition to all of us. And the US dedication to Article 5 is sacrosanct.
Already, in response to Russia’s build-up of troops, I’ve despatched extra U.S. forces to bolster NATO’s japanese flank.
A number of of our Allies have additionally introduced they’ll add forces and capabilities to make sure deterrence and protection alongside NATO’s japanese flank.
We may even proceed to conduct army workout routines with our Allies and companions to boost defensive readiness.
And if Russia invades, we’ll take additional steps to bolster our presence in NATO, reassure for our Allies, and deter additional aggression.
This can be a trigger that unites Republicans and Democrats. And I need to thank the leaders and members of Congress of each events who’ve forcefully spoken out in protection of our most simple, most bipartisan, most American rules.
I cannot faux this might be painless. There might be impression on our vitality costs, so we’re taking energetic steps to alleviate the stress on our personal vitality markets and offset rising costs.
We’re coordinating with main enersy [sic] — vitality shoppers and producers. We’re ready to deploy all of the instruments and authority at our disposal to offer reduction on the fuel pump.
And I’ll work with Congress on extra measures to assist shield shoppers and deal with the impression of costs on the pump.
We aren’t looking for direct confrontation with Russia, although I’ve been clear that if Russia targets Individuals in Ukraine, we’ll reply forcefully.
And if Russia assaults the US or our Allies via uneven means, like disruptive cyberattacks in opposition to our firms or essential infrastructure, we’re ready to reply.
We’re transferring in lockstep with our NATO Allies and companions to deepen our collective protection in opposition to threats in our on-line world.
Two paths are nonetheless open. For the sake of the historic duty Russia and the US share for world stability, for the sake of our frequent future — to decide on diplomacy.
However let there be little question: If Russia commits this breach by invading Ukraine, accountable nations around the globe won’t hesitate to reply.
If we don’t stand for freedom the place it’s in danger right now, we’ll certainly pay a steeper value tomorrow.
Thanks. I’ll hold you knowledgeable.
END 3:50 P.M. EST
