As night fell over Kyiv, Ukrainian forces were combatting Russian invaders on multiple fronts, as ballistic missiles and both helicopters and planes were apparently delivering Russian forces to the area around the capitol. Multiple images and videos show that Ukrainian forces have been acquitting themselves well, leaving Russian transports and tanks smoldering alongside highways—some of them reportedly destroyed by the Javelin anti-tank weapons sent from the United States.
At dusk, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed his nation and the world after almost a full day of fighting off a massive invasion by experienced units of one of the largest military forces on the planet.
Zelenskyy: “Ukraine will not surrender its freedom, whatever Moscow thinks. … If you, dear European leaders — my dear world leaders, leaders of the free world — don’t help us today, if you do not strongly support Ukraine, then tomorrow war will knock on your doors.”
At 12:30 PM ET, President Biden is expected to address the nation after a morning spent speaking with leaders of other G7 nations and NATO allies. This speech is expected to bring a new round of sanctions against Russia, which may be much harsher than anything handed out as the invasion opened on Wednesday evening.
Thursday, Feb 24, 2022 · 6:46:03 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
“A brutal attacks” says Biden, “without justification” and “without provocation.” Biden points out that everything has happened much as U.S. intelligence predicted, from the false flag claims in Moscow, to the actions Russia took to build up troops around Ukraine.
Thursday, Feb 24, 2022 · 6:51:08 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
New sanctions extended to Russian banks, Russian oligarchs, and Russian companies. Biden specifically focuses on cutting off Russia from access to high tech equipment, citing this as a means of limiting their military, their economy, and their space program.
Thursday, Feb 24, 2022 · 6:59:15 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Biden is staying around to answer questions this time.
First question concerns whether Biden plans to talk to Putin. and what it will take to keep this from spiraling into a larger conflict. Biden says it’s already a large conflict and he has no plan to talk to Putin.
Thursday, Feb 24, 2022 · 7:03:44 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Challenged with “markets are down and gas prices are up,” Biden says he doesn’t expect this to last long, considering the impact of the sanctions deployed against Russia.
Biden indicates that Putin has much higher ambitions than Ukraine, and emphasizes that the “effect” of sanctions will “so weaken his country” that Russia will be pushed toward “a second rate power.”
Thursday, Feb 24, 2022 · 7:04:56 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Biden is asked “what more are you waiting for” to impose sanctions not included today, including taking Russia off SWIFT. Biden again insists that the sanctions imposed are greater than SWIFT, tells reporter to “check back in a month” on how Russia is doing.
Thursday, Feb 24, 2022 · 7:05:37 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Biden dismisses the idea that this is the start of a new Cold War, but says instead this is a “cold day for Russia” in that he rest of the world is united against them. But says he’s not prepared to comment on what he expects from China.
Earlier statement from the Secretary General of NATO:
Live stream of Biden’s address to the nation from The Washington Post.
Official White House live stream.
The White House has now issued a fact sheet on the new sanctions.
- Severing the connection to the U.S. financial system for Russia’s largest financial institution, Sberbank
- Full blocking sanctions on Russia’s second largest financial institution, VTB Bank (VTB)
- Full blocking sanctions on three other major Russian financial institutions
- New debt and equity restrictions on 13 Russian enterprises and entities
- Additional full blocking sanctions on seven Russian elites and their family members
- Sanctions on 24 Belarusian individuals and entities, including targeting Belarus’ military and financial capabilities by sanctioning two significant Belarusian state-owned banks, nine defense firms, and seven regime-connected official and elites.
- Restrictions on nearly all U.S. items and items produced in foreign countries using certain U.S.-origin software, technology
- Russia-wide restrictions on technological goods “critical to a diversified economy and Putin’s ability to project power.” That includes exports of Russian technology.
- Tax and fee exemptions for other countries that join in the restrictions on Russia.