This is how the military power of Russia and Ukraine compare 1:40
(CNN) --
Vice President Kamala Harris promised Saturday that there would be a "swift, tough and united" response if Russia invades Ukraine, in a much-anticipated speech at the Munich Security Conference in Germany.
Harris laid out retaliatory measures consistent with her previous career as a prosecutor, promising "significant and unprecedented" economic costs.
With the brewing conflict between Russia and Ukraine reaching a boiling point, Harris took center stage this Saturday morning in front of a large international audience when she delivered the keynote address at the security conference.
The comments came at a high-stakes moment after repeated warnings by the United States on Friday about Russia's efforts to stage an invasion.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks at the Munich Security Conference in Germany on February 19.
(Thomas Kienzle/AFP/Getty Images)
The vice president's emphasis on Russia-Ukraine tensions follows several US efforts this Friday to publicize Russia's aggressive actions in the region and try to prevent Russia from invading Ukraine under the guise of false pretenses.
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Biden's rhetorical shift
Biden: I am convinced that Putin will invade Ukraine 1:18
President Joe Biden said he is now convinced that Russian President Vladimir Putin made the decision to invade Ukraine, adding that the United States believes Russian forces intend to attack Ukraine "within the next week" or sooner and that an attack will target the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
It was a major rhetorical shift for the president, who had previously indicated he believed Putin had not yet made up his mind about an invasion.
Still, Biden emphasized Friday that there was room for diplomacy.
A senior administration official told reporters before Harris's comments that he would make it clear the United States would be ready for any outcome.
"We have been putting the world on notice of what we fear and are seeing from the Russians, these provocations, which we fear they may use as a pretext to invade Ukraine and in the last few hours or days, unfortunately, we have seen some of those," the official said. .
Russian misinformation is becoming a false justification for Putin to order an invasion, Biden said, accusing Russia of ceasefire violations in the "rapidly escalating crisis."
CNN reporter confronts the President of Belarus 2:42
The White House on Friday also blamed Russia for a massive cyberattack in Ukraine earlier in the week and warned that Russia could face extensive sanctions if it invades Ukraine, with Daleep Singh, deputy national security adviser for international economics and deputy director of the Council. National Economic.
, calling them "the most severe measures we have ever contemplated against Russia."
The official said Harris still plans to meet after the speech with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and will also hold some informal meetings with other leaders.
Despite the US assessment of an imminent invasion of Ukraine, Biden said Friday that it is up to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to decide whether to attend this weekend's security conference in Germany.
A senior Ukrainian official told CNN that Zelensky still plans to travel to Munich and return the same day.
But he added that "the security situation will be reassessed in the morning."
The official who previewed the vice president's weekend plans said of Zelensky's decision to travel: "That's really his decision. It's really up to him to decide where he needs to be."
When asked specifically if they were concerned, the official said flatly, "No."
CNN's Allie Malloy contributed to this report.
Kamala HarrisUkraine