The US and allies are planning on Thursday to set off the “full scale” of the sanctions which have been mentioned over the past a number of weeks in response to the assault, in line with a senior Biden administration official.
“President Putin has chosen a premeditated warfare that may convey a catastrophic lack of life and human struggling,” Biden mentioned. “Russia alone is accountable for the demise and destruction this assault will convey, and the USA and its Allies and companions will reply in a united and decisive means. The world will maintain Russia accountable.”
The White Home assertion got here in response to explosions throughout Ukraine, together with within the capital of Kyiv. Shortly earlier than the explosions started, Russian President Vladmir Putin introduced a “particular navy operation” and referred to as for Ukraine’s “demilitarization” in televised remarks.
An adviser for the inside minister of Ukraine, Anton Gerashchenko, mentioned Russia’s “invasion has begun” with “missile strikes on Kyiv,” in an official WhatsApp group with journalists.
The early evaluation from the US is that that is the beginning of the complete Russian invasion, in line with a senior US official aware of the newest US intelligence. The supply mentioned the assumption is that the explosions heard close to Kyiv and Odessa are doubtless missiles, whereas these round Kharkiv in jap Ukraine are doubtless artillery, given the proximity to the border.
Biden additionally spoke by cellphone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In an announcement on the decision, Biden mentioned he briefed Zelensky “on the steps we’re taking to rally worldwide condemnation, together with tonight on the United Nations Safety Council.”
“He requested me to name on the leaders of the world to talk out clearly in opposition to President Putin’s flagrant aggression, and to face with the folks of Ukraine,” Biden mentioned.
In an handle Thursday morning in Ukraine, Zelensky mentioned he was introducing martial regulation throughout the nation and urged Ukrainians to stay calm.
“No panic. We’re sturdy. We’re prepared for the whole lot,” he mentioned. “We are going to win over everyone as a result of we’re Ukraine.”
Biden mentioned that he deliberate to talk to his G-7 counterparts and would give a speech to the American folks on Thursday. He mentioned he meant to announce “additional penalties” that the US and its allies deliberate to impose on Russia over “this unnecessary act of aggression in opposition to Ukraine and world peace and safety.”
“We may also coordinate with our NATO Allies to make sure a robust, united response that deters any aggression in opposition to the Alliance,” Biden mentioned.
Whereas the administration official declined to put out specifics, the US has deliberate to focus on Russia’s two largest banks, in addition to different monetary companies, and has ready to deploy export controls to chop off Russian entry to vital Western expertise for total Russian financial sectors.
Extra members of Putin’s interior circle and their households are additionally more likely to be focused.
Discussions have been ongoing late Wednesday night between US and European officers concerning the remaining form of the package deal, the official mentioned. It should even be a subject of debate on the digital G-7 assembly that has been scheduled, the official mentioned.
US officers stay on excessive alert for any cyber exercise in opposition to key home targets together with banks and demanding infrastructure, the official mentioned.
Biden’s nationwide safety crew plans to transient the Home and Senate in separate, unclassified cellphone calls Thursday on the scenario in Ukraine. Lawmakers from each events roundly condemned Russia’s actions in statements Wednesday and referred to as for the US to ramp up sanctions in opposition to Moscow.
UN assembly as explosions start
The UN Safety Council held an emergency assembly on Wednesday night in New York — providing a exceptional cut up display because the diplomats delivered speeches on the similar time Putin’s speech aired on Russian tv and the explosions started in Ukraine. Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United Nations Volodymyr Yelchenko instantly questioned Russia’s consultant in his speech.
“About 48 minutes in the past, your President declared warfare on Ukraine,” Yelchenko mentioned. “You declared the warfare. It’s the accountability of this physique to cease the warfare.”
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield spoke for a second time because the UN assembly was nearing an finish, stating Putin had “delivered a message of warfare” whereas the Safety Council was assembly. She mentioned the US would introduce a decision within the UN on Thursday.
“On the precise time as we’re gathered within the Council in search of peace, Putin delivered a message of warfare in complete disdain for the accountability of this council,” Thomas-Greenfield mentioned.
As the ultimate speaker of the assembly, Yelchenko turned his consideration once more to Russia’s UN ambassador, Vasily Nebenzya, who was appearing as president of the Safety Council.
“I welcome the choice of some members of this council to fulfill as quickly as doable to contemplate the mandatory choice that may condemn the aggression that you just launch on my folks,” Yelchenko mentioned. “There is no such thing as a purgatory for warfare criminals. They go straight to hell, Ambassador.”
Nebenzya shot again by claiming Moscow wasn’t being aggressive in opposition to the Ukrainian folks however in opposition to the “junta” in energy in Kyiv, earlier than rapidly gaveling an finish to the UN assembly.
This story has been up to date with further developments.
CNN’s Jim Sciutto, Kaitlan Collins, Kevin Liptak, Jennifer Hansler, Manu Raju, Carolyn Sung and Mirna Alsharif contributed to this report.
