President Joe Biden Denounces Russia’s Attack on Ukraine

On Thursday, Russia struck Ukrainian cities and bases with airstrikes and shelling. U.S. President Joe Biden immediately condemned Russia’s wide-ranging attack on Ukraine.

Earlier this week, People magazine reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed a decree to recognize two separatist sections of Ukraine — Donetsk and Luhansk, which have been the site of ongoing fighting — as independent states. That day, Putin ordered troops to those territories in what Russian officials claim is a "peacekeeping mission” — though these moves have not been recognized by the international community.

Putin had announced a “special military operation” in the Donbas area, one of the separatist regions he had declared independent despite international condemnation, but instead authorized a far broader invasion.

Shortly after Thursday’s attack began, Biden released a statement denouncing Putin’s actions which, per the Associated Press, have claimed the lives of at least 40 Ukrainian civilians.

“The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces,” Biden said in his message.

“President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.”

“We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance. Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine,” Biden concluded.

Around the time Biden released this statement, Putin defended the operation, saying its aim is to "demilitarize" Ukraine and that the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine. Per the AP, Putin added that Ukrainian servicemen who put down their arms would be able to safely leave the combat zone, an assertion that many doubted.

Putin also issued a threat to anyone who would try to intervene, saying they "must know that Russia's answer will be immediate, and will lead to such consequences as you never experienced in your history,” possibly alluding to nuclear strikes.

On Thursday, Biden unveiled new sanctions against Russia including export blocks on technology, which Biden says would severely limit their ability to advance its military and aerospace sector. Biden also applied sanctions on Russian banks, the country’s "corrupt billionaires," and individuals in Belarus for their role in facilitating the Russian attack.

"Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences," Biden said at a press conference, while laying out the measures that will "impose severe cost on the Russian economy, both immediately and over time."

As reported by The New York Times, explosions were reported in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kramatorsk and other parts of Ukraine shortly after Putin's televised address.

Per The AP on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he spoke with Biden and said the two countries are rallying international support for Ukraine. He also urged Ukrainians to stay home and to not panic.

While declaring martial law, Zelensky wrote on Twitter, “As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history. Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and won’t give up its freedom.”

Additionally, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba was quoted by the AP describing Russia’s actions as a “full-scale invasion of Ukraine” and a “war of aggression.”

“Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now,” Kuleba said.