President Biden called Russia’s bombing and invasion of Ukraine “a brutal assault on the people of Ukraine without provocation, without justification, without necessity.”
In February 24 remarks at the White House, President Biden reiterated the United States, its allies and partners are united in their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and condemned Russia’s “flagrant violation of international law.”
“In the contest between democracy and autocracy, between sovereignty and subjugation, make no mistake: Freedom will prevail,” the president said.
Biden also outlined another round of U.S. sanctions designed to weaken Russia’s ability to continue using force and new limitations on what can be exported to Russia.
‘Putin is the aggressor’
Biden said the sanctions will impose severe costs on the Russian economy — both immediately and over time — and are in response to Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine at the behest of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war,” he said. “And now he and his country will bear the consequences.”
While the United States, NATO, European partners and Ukraine all tried to resolve the conflict through diplomacy, Putin revealed his true intention was to exert his will through force by invading a democratic neighbor without provocation.
“He rejected every good-faith effort the United States and our Allies and partners made to address our mutual security concerns through dialogue to avoid needless conflict and avert human suffering,” Biden said.
Russia has launched missiles on major cities, triggered unrest throughout Ukraine and initiated cyberattacks against Ukrainian sites. Russia is continuing the effort it began in 2014 to create two “republics” inside Ukraine’s territory in violation of international law.
Russia’s state-controlled media broadcast false claims with no evidence that Ukraine planned an invasion of Russia, planned a chemical attack against civilians and committed genocide. This misinformation is intended to justify Russia’s aggression.
Biden emphasized that the United States is not acting alone. Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan and the United Kingdom are taking similar actions to hold Russia accountable.
In addition to the economic penalties, Biden said the United States will take additional steps to defend NATO allies, particularly on NATO’s eastern and southeastern flank. “NATO is more united and more determined than ever,” Biden said.
“When the history of this era is written, Putin’s choice to make a totally unjustifiable war on Ukraine will have left Russia weaker and the rest of the world stronger,” the president said.