Joe Biden announces sanctions against Russia's sovereign debt

- Yesterday Putin recognized two regions of Ukraine as independent states. <...> In my opinion, he creates a rationale for capturing more territory. <…> In order to go much further. This is the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, - said the head of the White House.

The measures came into force on 23 February. Biden specified that the sanctions would also affect representatives of the Russian elites and members of their families, "who share the corruption danger of the Kremlin's policies and share their pain." It also provides for sanctions against the banks "VEB and the military bank."

Biden assured that this is only the beginning of sanctions, and new ones will follow with further escalation around Ukraine.

The President of the United States indicated that the States do not intend to go to war with Russia, but are going to send her a clear signal that Washington and its allies "will defend every inch of NATO territory and fulfill their obligations."

In addition, he announced the forthcoming deployment of additional American forces to reinforce Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Biden indicated that "diplomacy is still available" but is working with Germany to ensure that Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline never comes online.

Earlier, the European Union agreed on sanctions against Moscow. According to the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, 351 deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and 27 more individuals and legal entities will be subject to EU sanctions, but Russian leader Vladimir Putin is not on this list.

Before that, the British authorities imposed economic sanctions against five Russian banks, as well as against businessmen Gennady Timchenko, Boris and Igor Rotenberg close to the President of Russia, and British Foreign Minister Liz Truss signed the first package of sanctions against Russia in connection with Moscow's recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics .