The United Nations Secretary General says we are seeing a Russian military operation inside the sovereign territory of Ukraine on a scale that Europe has not seen in decades.
Antonio Guterres announced that the United Nations would allocate $20 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund to meet immediate humanitarian needs in the region as he warned that the decisions of the coming days would shape the world and directly affect the lives of millions of people.
This as the U.S. President Joe Biden announced additional sanctions against the Russian Federation, warning that President Vladimir Putin was the aggressor and that he and his country would bear the consequences.
With the Security Council expected to vote on a draft resolution Friday that would demand Russia’s troop withdrawal from Ukraine among other measures, the UN Chief has continued to take a tough line against Moscow for what he views as a flagrant violation of the UN Charter.
“All members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.” The use of force by one country against another is the repudiation of the principles that every country has committed to uphold. This applies to the present military offensive. It is wrong. It is against the Charter. It is unacceptable. But it is not irreversible. I repeat my appeal from last night to President Putin: Stop the military operation. Bring the troops back to Russia.”
In Washington, a new round of sanctions announced as Putin is labeled an aggressor and global pariah by the United States. This is what United States President Joe Biden had to say.
With the backing of the G7, Biden announced that they would limit Russia’s ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds and the yen; blocks on technology exports to Russia, sanctions applied on four major banks, freezing their assets in the United States and further restrictions on Russia’s billionaire elites and their families.
“America stands up to bullies. We stand up for freedom. This is who we are. And we also repeat the warning I made last week. If Russia pursues cyber-attacks against our companies, our critical infrastructure, we are prepared to respond. For, months we’ve been working closely with our private sector to harden our cyber defenses, sharpen our ability to respond to Russia’s cyber-attacks as well. I spoke last night president (Volodomyr) Zelenskyy of Ukraine, and I assured him that the United States, together with our allies and partners in Europe, will support the Ukrainian people as they defend their country.”
Biden said Putin’s actions portrayed a sinister vision for the future of the world but took time to explain that despite their defense and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, U.S. forces would not be engaged in a conflict with Russia in that country.
Rather they are prepositioning forces in Europe to defend their NATO allies who remain in close proximity to the latest aggression with a warning that Washington would defend every inch of NATO’s territory with the full force of American Power.
U.S. President Joe Biden announces additional sanctions against Russia
Events leading to Russia-Ukraine attacks
