BBC News
Earlier this evening we heard from US President Joe Biden. Here’s a summary of what he said:
The Russian invasion is happening exactly how US officials predicted
Russia staged false-flag operations that resulted in a “flagrant” violation of international law
President Putin moved 175,000 troops and military equipment to Ukraine’s borders and brought blood supplies and built field hospitals
Putin wanted to re-establish the former Soviet Union and his actions leave him as a pariah on the international stage
The US would defend “every inch” of Nato territory, but no American troops would be deployed to Ukraine
Biden also announced sanctions to “maximise a long-term impact on Russia”. In summary:
Biden said he agreed with the G7 leaders from the world’s largest economies that they will collectively limit Russia’s ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds and yen
Russia’s second largest lender VTB is among four Russian banks that will be sanctioned
The US and allies will cut off more than half of Russia’s high-tech imports which will stop them from being able to modernise their military, build ships and aircraft and advance in aerospace
Cutting Russia off from the global Swift banking system is not being proposed “right now”