Biden said the Russians were “pumping misinformation and lies” about the leaks, an apparent reference to Putin’s accusation of the United States and its allies of blowing up the lines.
Biden said the United States has already begun helping its allies protect critical infrastructure. “At the right moment, when things calm down, we will send in divers to find out exactly what happened,” he said.
“We don’t know that yet, exactly,” Biden said. But, “Just don’t listen to what Putin says. Because what he says, we know it’s not true.”
– Michael Collins
The Biden administration sanctioned 278 Russian lawmakers, 14 individuals closely linked to Vladimir Putin’s military on Friday after Putin announced he was declaring four regions in Ukraine.
US officials said that among the individuals under sanctions were two international suppliers, three key leaders of the Russian financial structure, and family members of top Russian direct officials.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the sanctions were part of a “strong and coordinated effort to hold Putin and his backers accountable for his unprovoked invasion, and to reduce their ability to support their economy.”
The Commerce Department also said it would sanction 57 entities that violate US export controls, and the State Department placed visa restrictions on Ushur Sog Mongush, a Russian citizen accused of torturing a Ukrainian prisoner of war.
The State Department also said it was taking steps to impose restrictions on a total of 910 personnel, including members of the Russian military, Belarusian military officials and Russian agents in Ukraine.
– Francesca Chambers
President Joe Biden warned Vladimir Putin on Friday that the United States and its allies would not be afraid of the Russian leader’s “reckless words and threats.”
“He won’t scare us, he won’t frighten us,” Biden told reporters at the White House.
Biden’s comments came just hours after Putin falsely announced that four Ukrainian regions were now part of the Russian Federation and vowed to defend the annexed territories “by all available means.” Earlier, Putin threatened to use nuclear weapons if Russian territory was threatened.
Addressing his remarks directly to Putin, Biden said the world would never accept Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian provinces and that the United States and its allies were ready to defend “every inch of NATO territory.”
“Mr. Biden, Putin said, don’t misunderstand what I’m saying: every inch.
– Michael Collins
Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Menendez said on Friday that the United States would not recognize Russian authority over Ukrainian territory.
We will demand accountability for the atrocities in places under illegal Russian occupation such as Bucha and Izyum. Menendez, DN.J. said. “We will never think of Putin’s delusional attempts to rewrite the map of Europe,” he said in a statement.
Menendez reiterated that Putin’s attempt to annex parts of Ukraine to Russia due to battlefield losses was pushing the leader to take more dangerous and desperate measures.
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