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Good afternoon, the Russian military has begun a brutal assault on the people of Ukraine without provocation without justification without necessity. This is a premeditated attack. Vladimir Putin has been planning this for months, as we've been saying all along, He moved more than 175,000 troops, military equipment and positions along the Ukrainian border. He moved blood supplies into position. They had built a field hospital which tells you all you need to know about his intentions all along. He rejected every good faith effort the United States and our allies and partners made to address our mutual security concerns through dialogue to avoid needless conflict and avert human suffering for weeks. For weeks we have been warning that this would happen and now it's unfolding largely as we predicted in the past week, we've seen shelling increase in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine controlled by Russian backed separatists. Russian, the Russian government has perpetrated cyberattacks against Ukraine. We saw a stage political theater in Moscow, outlandish and baseless claims that Ukraine was a Ukraine was about to invade and launch a war against Russia that Ukraine was prepared to use chemical weapons. Ukraine committed a genocide without any evidence. We saw a flagrant violation of international law and attempting to unilaterally create two new so called Republics on sovereign Ukrainian territory and at the very moment that the United Nations Security Council is meeting to stand up for Ukraine's sovereignty to stave off invasion. Putin declared his war within moments moments missile strikes began to fall on historic cities across Ukraine then came in the air raids followed by tanks and troops rolling in. We've been transparent with the world, we shared declassified evidence about Russia's plans and cyber attacks and false pretext so that there could be no confusion or cover up about what Putin was doing. Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war and now he and his country will bear the consequences Today. I'm authorizing additional strong sanctions and new limitations on what can be exported to Russia. This is going to impose severe costs on the Russian economy, both immediately and over time. We have purposefully designed these sanctions to maximize the long term impact on Russia and to minimize the impact in the United States and our allies. I want to be clear the United States is not doing this alone for months. We've been building a coalition of partners representing well more than half the global economy. 27 members of the European Union, including France, Germany Italy as well as the United Kingdom, Canada Japan Australia, New Zealand and many others to amplify the joint impact of our response. I just spoke with the G-7 leaders this morning and we're in full and total agreement. We will limit Russia's ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds and yen to be part of the global economy. We'll limit their ability to do that. We're going to stunt the ability of to finance and grow Russia, the Russian military, We're going to impose major and we're gonna impair their ability to compete in high tech 21st century economy. We've already seen the impact of our actions on Russia's currency and the ruble, which early today hit its weakest level ever, ever in history, the Russia stock market plunged today. The Russian government borrowing rates spiked by over 15%. Today's actions, we've now sanctioned Russian banks That together hold around $1 trillion dollars in assets. We've cut off Russia's largest bank, a bank that holds more than one third of Russia's banking assets by itself. Cut it off in the U. S. Financial system and today we're also blocking four more major banks. That means every asset they have in America will be frozen. This includes VTB, the second largest bank in Russia, Which has $250 billion dollars in assets as promised. We're also adding the names to the list of Russian elites and their family members that are sanctioning that were sanctioned as well. As I said on Tuesday, these are people who personally gain from the Kremlin's policies and they should share in the pain we will keep up this drumbeat of those designations against corrupt billionaires in the days ahead. On Tuesday, we stopped the Russian government from raising money from us or european investors. Now we're going to apply the same restrictions to Russia's largest state owned enterprises Companies with assets that exceed $1.4 trillion, Some of the most powerful impacts our actions will come over time as we squeeze Russians access to finances and technology for strategic sectors of its economy and degrade its industrial capacity for years to come between our actions and those of our allies and partners, we estimate that will cut off more than half of Russia's high tech imports will strike a blow to their ability to continue to modernize their military. It will degrade their aerospace industry, including their space program. It will hurt their ability to build ships, reducing their ability to compete economically. And it will be a major hit to Putin's long term strategic ambitions and we're preparing to do more. In addition to the economic penalties were imposing, We're also taking steps to defend our NATO allies. It's particularly in east. Tomorrow. NATO will convene a summit will be there to bring together the leaders of 30 Allied nations and close partners to affirm our solidarity and to map out the next steps we will take to further strengthen all aspects of our NATO alliance. Although we provided over $650 million dollars in defensive assistance to Ukraine just this year. Last year, let me say it again. Our forces are not and will not be engaged in the conflict with Russia in Ukraine. Our forces are not going to europe to fight in Ukraine but to defend our NATO allies and reassure those allies in the east. As I made crystal clear, the United States will defend every inch of NATO territory with the full force of american power and the good news is native was more united and more determined than ever. There is no doubt No doubt that the United States and every NATO ally will meet our Article five commitments Which says in an attack on one is an attack on all over the past few weeks, ordered thousands of additional forces to Germany and Poland as part of our commitment to NATO on Tuesday. In response to Russia's aggressive action, including his troop presence in Belarus and the Black Sea. I've authorized deployment of ground and air forces already stationed in europe to NATO's eastern flank. Allies, Estonia Latvia, Lithuania Poland and Romania. Our allies have also been stepping up adding the other allies rest of NATO adding their own forces and capabilities to ensure collective defense. And today within hours of Russia is unleashing its assault. NATO came together and authorized and activated an activation of response plans. This will enable NATO's high readiness forces to deploy and when and where they are needed to protect our NATO allies on the eastern boundaries of europe. And now I'm authorizing additional U. S. Forces capabilities to deploy to Germany as part of NATO's response, including some of the US based forces that the Department of Defense placed on standby weeks ago. I've also spoken with Defense Secretary Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Milley about preparations for additional moves. Should they become necessary to protect our NATO allies and support the greatest military alliance in the history of the world as we respond. My administration is using the tools, every tool that's supposed to protect american families and businesses from rising prices at the gas pump. You know, we're taking active steps to bring down the cost an american oil and gas companies should not should not exploit this moment to hike their prices to raise profits. You know, in our sanctions package were specifically designed to allow energy payments to continue. We are closely monitoring energy supplies for any disruption. We've been coordinating with major oil producing and consuming countries towards our common interest to secure global energy supplies. We are actively working with countries around the world to elevate collective release from the strategic petroleum reserves of major energy consuming countries and the United States will release additional barrels of oil as conditions warrant. I know this is hard and the americans are already hurting. I will do everything in my power to limit the pain the american people are feeling at the gas pump. This is critical to me, but this aggression cannot go unanswered. If it did, the consequences for America would be much worse. America stands up to bullies, We stand up for freedom. This is who we are and they 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 pride with the private sector to harden our cyber defenses, sharpen our ability to respond to Russian cyber attacks as well. I spoke last night to President Zelensky 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, will provide your humanitarian relief to ease their suffering. In the early days of this conflict, Russia propaganda outlets will keep trying to hide the truth and claim success for its military operation against a made up threat. But history has shown time and again how swift gains and territory eventually give way to grinding occupations. Acts of mass civil, mass civil disobedience and strategic dead ends the next few weeks and months, we hardened the people of Ukraine. Putin has unleashed a great pain on them, But the Ukrainian people have known 30 years of independence. They have repeatedly shown that they will not tolerate anyone who tries to take their country backwards. This is a dangerous moment for all of europe. For the freedom around the world. Putin is a committed assault on the very principles that uphold the global peace. Now. The entire world sees clearly but Putin and his criminal and and his criminal allies are really all about. This was never about a genuine security concerns on their part. It was always about naked aggression, about Putin's desire for empire by any means necessary, by bullying Russia's neighbors through coercion and corruption, by changing borders by force and ultimately by choosing a war without a cause. Putin's actions betrays sinister vision for the future of our world. One more nations take what they want by force. But it is a vision that the United States and freedom loving nations everywhere will oppose with every tool of our considerable power, the United States and our allies and partners will emerge from this stronger, more united, more determined and more purposeful. Putin's aggression against Ukraine will end up costing Russia dearly economically and strategically. We will make sure of that. Putin will be a pariah on the international stage. Any nation accountant is Russia's naked aggression against Ukraine will be stained by association. The history of this area is written, Putin's choice to make a totally unjustifiable war on Ukraine. We love love Russia, weaker and the rest of the world stronger. Liberty. Democracy, human dignity. These are the forces far more powerful and fear and oppression they cannot be extinguished by tyrants like Putin and his armies. They cannot be erased by people from people's hearts and hopes by any amount of violence and intimidation they endure in the contest between democracy and autocracy between sovereignty and subjugation. Make no mistake. Freedom will prevail. God bless the people of a free and democratic Ukrainian May. God protect our troops associated press Zeke. Thank you. So you believe to speak with President Putin at this point And what interactions have you had with the Russian government? I heard the first part, Do I have any plans to speak with Putin at this point? And what what communications did you have with the Kremlin as far as military Operation Ukraine? And making sure this is not spiral into a larger conflict? It's a large conflict already. The way we're gonna sure it's not going to aspire to a larger conflict is by providing all the forces needed in the eastern european nations that are members of NATO. NATO is more united than it's ever been. And I have no plans to talk with Putin Mr President ah Wall Street Journal, Serena Mr President. You didn't mention swift in your sanctions that you announced? Is there a reason why the U. S. Isn't doing that? Is there a disagreement among allies um, regarding swift and whether uh Russia should be allowed to be a part of it? The sanctions that we have proposed on all the banks of equal consequence. Maybe more consequence than swift? # one. Number two? Uh it is always an option. But right now that's not the position that the rest of europe wishes to take. Um cecilia vega abc. Sir, sanctions clearly have not been enough to deter Vladimir Putin to this point. What is going to stop him? How and when does this end? And do you see him trying to go beyond Ukraine? And a second question I'll just give to you Now this statement that he gave last night, will that the what the threat that he gave the West will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history. Is he threatening a nuclear strike? I have no idea what he's threatening. I know what he has done. # one and number two, no one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening. It has to show it's gonna take time and we have to show resolve. So he knows what's coming. And so the people of Russia know what he's brought on them. That's what this is all about. This is gonna take time. It's not gonna occur. He's gonna say, oh my God, these sanctions are coming, I'm gonna stand down. He's gonna test the resolve of the West to see if we stay together and we will we will and it will impose significant costs on him. Will he go beyond Ukraine, sir? Do you see him going? Yes, two topics just really quick. First markets are down and gas prices are up. I know you always stress the difference between Wall Street and Main Street, but everybody seems to be in for some economic pain. How economically painful is it going to get for people in this country? And I do have one more question. First of all, there's no doubt that when a major nuclear power attacks and invades another country, that the world is going to respond and markets can respond all over the world. So there's no doubt about it. Number one. Number two, the notion that this is going to last for a long time is highly unlikely. As long as we continue to stay resolved in imposing the sanctions were going to impose on Russia period. What's your next question? I'm sorry. The next question is, did you underestimate Putin? And would you still describe them the way that it did in the summer as a worthy adversary at the time? He was I made it clear as an adversary and I said he was worthy. I didn't underestimate him. And I've read most of everything he's written. Did you read the shins? I'm not in a wise guy. The you you heard the speech he made almost an hour's worth of speeches. Why he was going into Ukraine, he has much larger ambitions in Ukraine. He wants to in fact reestablish the former soviet union. That's what this is about. And I think that his his ambitions are are completely contrary to the place where the rest of the world has arrived. You're confident that these devastating sanctions are going to be as devastating as Russian missiles and bullets and tanks. Yes. Russian bullets, missiles, and tanks in Ukraine? Yes, I am mr if sanctions cannot stop President Putin, what penalty can I didn't say sanctions couldn't stop him. You've been talking about the threat of these sanctions for several weeks now. Yes, but the threat of the sanctions in imposing the sanctions and seeing the effect of the sanctions are two different things. There are two different things, and we're now going to he's going to begin to see the effect of the sanctions. And what will that do? How will that change his mindset here? Because it was so weak in his country that he'll have to make a very, very difficult choices of whether to continue to move toward being a second rate power or in fact, respond. You said in recent weeks that big nations cannot bluff when it comes to something like this. You recently said that the idea of personally sanctioning President Putin was on the table, Is that a step that you're prepared to take? And if not a bluff? It's on the table sanctioning President Putin. Why not sanction him today, sir? Why not sanction him today, Mr. President, if I can you detailed some severe and swift new sanctions today and said the impact it will have over time. But given the full scale invasion, given that you're not pursuing disconnecting Russia from what's called swift, the international banking system or other sanctions at your disposal? Respectfully, sir, what more are you waiting for? Specifically with the sanctions were imposed exceeds swift? The sanctions we opposed to exceed anything that's ever been done. The sanctions we imposed have generated two thirds of the world joining us. They are profound sanctions. Let's have a conversation in another month or so, to see if they're working? Yes. Can I ask you about Zelensky, sir? You spoke to Vladimir Zelensky yesterday, sir? What's the risk that we are watching the beginning of another cold war? And is there now a complete rupture in us and Russian relations? There is a complete rupture right now in us Russian relations. If they continue on this path that they're on. And in terms of Cold War that depends, you have the vast majority of the rest of the world and total opposition to what he's doing From Asia to South America to europe around the world. And so it's going to be a cold day for Russia. The idea you don't see a whole lot of people coming to his defense. And are you are you if I could follow up, sir, are you urging china to help isolate Russia. Ru urging china to help isolate Russia. I'm not prepared to comment and at the moment. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Yeah. No, no, no. He's had his hand up a long time. Thank you Mr President, how concerned are you that Putin wants to go beyond Ukraine into other countries and the U. S. Will have to get involved if he moves into NATO countries. Well, if he did move into NATO countries, he will be involved, we will be involved. The only thing that I'm convinced of is if we don't stop now, he'll be emboldened. If we don't move against him now with these two significant sanctions, he will be emboldened. Look, you know, every well anyway, anything more about your conversation? I'm sorry. I can't hear you, sir. India, which is a major defense partner of the United States is India with fully with you on the issue of Ukraine and Russia does. The Defense Department of the United States. India is one of your major defense partners is India fully in sync with the United States on on Russia. We're going to be, we're in consultation with with India today. We haven't resolved that completely. Thank you all very much. Yes.