From Kyiv: This is the last hour of Russia's attack on Ukraine 3:54
Washington (CNN)
US President Joe Biden, vowing the world will "hold Russia accountable" for the attack taking place in Ukraine, will detail Thursday a series of sanctions once intended to deter such an attack. attack.
How Putin's attack on Ukraine was experienced inside the White House
Set to address the nation at 12 p.m. ET, Biden is expected to unveil new measures that could insulate Russia from advanced technology, announce new restrictions on large financial institutions and apply sanctions to additional members of Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle. Putin.
The planned sanctions, the latest US retaliation against Moscow this week, had been booked because Biden hoped to maintain some leverage to deter Putin from a full-scale invasion.
But so far, Western threats of economic punishment, as well as Biden's strategy of revealing what the United States knew about Putin's buildup to try to make the Russian leader doubt himself, have proven ineffective.
After months of predictions and warnings, Russian forces began their attack on Ukraine on Thursday morning local time, with reports of troops crossing the border to the north and south;
explosions in several cities, including the capital Kyiv, and warnings from Putin of future bloodshed unless Ukrainian forces lay down their arms.
Biden's sanctions are now meant to punish Putin's actions, rather than prevent them, by targeting Russia's economy, its military capabilities, and those closest to the Russian president.
However, it remains an open question how much they can alter Putin's decision-making in the future.
ANALYSIS |
Why Putin's Feared Ukraine Attack Will Rock America and the World
Before speaking, Biden plans to consult with leaders of the Group of 7 major industrialized nations on what sanctions they plan to impose, hoping to coordinate a response that projects unity among Western allies.
US and European officials spoke by phone overnight Thursday to coordinate their responses.
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On Thursday morning, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen vowed to "weaken Russia's economic base and modernization capacity" following Russia's "barbaric attack" on Ukraine.
"We will freeze Russian assets in the European Union and stop Russian banks' access to European financial markets," he said.
Biden's top national security advisers called emergency meetings Wednesday night as Putin announced his plan to launch a "military operation" against Ukraine in a televised address.
The speech was broadcast in Russia at the same time the United Nations Security Council was meeting to condemn Moscow's behavior, taking some delegates by surprise.
Huddled in the West Wing, Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan and other top officials prepared a statement from Biden condemning the Russian attack as "unprovoked and unwarranted."
"President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," Biden wrote in the statement, issued at 10:25 p.m. ET, just as the explosions began in Kiev.
PHOTOS |
Explosions and military vehicles: the images of the Russian attack on Ukraine
An hour later, Biden was on the phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who sought out the White House as his country was under siege.
"He asked me to call on world leaders to speak out against President Putin's blatant aggression and to stand with the people of Ukraine," Biden said later in a statement.
He said the United States and its partners planned to "impose severe sanctions on Russia."
Biden on Monday announced a more limited sanctions package following Putin's initial decision to send troops to Ukraine after recognizing two pro-Russian regions in the eastern part of the country.
Those measures targeted two state financial institutions, three members of Putin's inner circle and Russia's sovereign debt.
Conflict Russia - Ukraine