15:52 GMT 15:52
In his speech, Biden said the US would welcome Ukrainian refugees with “open arms” and promised to provide additional support to the beleaguered people. Echoing Harris’ message just delivered in Romania, Biden, speaking from Roosevelt’s White House room, again vowed that the US was ready to defend “every inch of NATO territory with the full power of a united and strengthened” security alliance.
“We will not fight against Russia and Ukraine,” he said. “A direct confrontation between Russia and Russia is a third world war and we must strive to prevent it.”
Biden said that Putin’s war against Ukraine has already failed.
[Putin] hoped to capture Ukraine without a fight. He failed. He hoped to break the resolve of Europe. He failed. He hoped to weaken the transatlantic alliance. He failed. He hoped to split American democracy in terms of our positions. He failed.
The American people are one. The world is one, and we support the people of Ukraine. We will not allow autocrats and would-be emperors to dictate the direction of the world. Democracies rise to meet this moment rallying the world on the side of peace and security. We show our strength and we will not give up.”
Updated at 15:59 GMT.
15:37 GMT 15:37
Biden: The United States and its allies will deny Russia the most favored nation status
Joe Biden announced that the United States is going to deprive Russia of “most favored nation status” in agreement with the allies.
Terminating Russia’s permanent normal trade relations “would make it harder for Russia to do business with the United States.” He said the US was “taking the first steps” to ban imports of Russian vodka, seafood and diamonds.
Biden thanked Pelosi for pushing the US to take this action and for delaying action in Congress until he “can line up all of our key allies.”
“Putin is the aggressor and Putin must pay the price,” he said.
He also detailed other economic sanctions the US has taken to destabilize the Russian economy and put pressure on Putin and his entourage.
Biden said the US and its allies are targeting an expanded list of Russian oligarchs and are ramping up efforts to capture their “ill-earned profits.”
“They support Putin. They steal from the Russians and seek to hide their money in our countries,” Biden said, highlighting one of the most popular aspects of the West’s suppression of Russia. “They are part of the kleptocracy that exists in Moscow, and they should share the pain of these sanctions.”
Biden said that in addition to confiscating their “superyachts” and vacation homes, the US is also banning the export of luxury goods to Russia, calling it the last but “not the last step we’re going to take.”
Updated at 15:59 GMT.
15:02 GMT 15:02
Pelosi: US will seek to sever normal trade relations with Russia
Speaking to reporters at a Democratic retreat, that is…No-retreat in Philadelphia, Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi announced that the United States would deprive Russia of its “most favored nation” trade status in connection with its invasion of Ukraine.
Scott Wong (@scottwongDC)
Before Biden Performs in Philadelphia, PELOSIE Says She’s Happy@POTUStoday will announce the end of normal trade relations with Russia pic.twitter.com/n6p9rSSyRG
Soon, Biden is going to talk about ending Russia’s special trade status in coordination with the EU and G7 countries, which will allow countries to increase tariffs on Russian imports. This is the latest step in a series of tougher economic sanctions and actions taken to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Currently, the US excludes only two countries from this list: Cuba and North Korea, explains Guardian economic correspondent Richard Partington. The removal of Russia’s status would increase the border tax on Russian goods in the US by more than 10 times the current applicable rate, which averages about 3%.
Updated at 15:26 GMT.
14:48 GMT 14:48
Long after the sun set over the US capital on Thursday, Friday-hating US senators gave their final approval to a $1.5 trillion funding bill.
A vast omnibus bill belatedly funds the federal government during the fiscal year, ending a cycle of temporary measures and threats of closure. The package, which was passed with bipartisan support in both houses, includes $13.6 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and its European allies. Now the bill is sent to Biden for signature.
In a statement, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, said the bipartisan support for the bill “proves once again that members of both parties can come together to deliver results for the American people.”
This will cut costs for families and businesses, support our economic recovery, and strengthen America’s leadership overseas. With these resources, we will be able to provide historic support to the Ukrainian people who are defending their country and democracy. launch a bold new initiative to make unprecedented progress in the treatment of cancer and other diseases, and provide additional support to our law enforcement agencies so they can protect our communities.
Psaki also urged Congress to resume negotiations on “resources that are urgently needed to prevent major disruptions in our response to Covid.” In a blow to Democrats and the White House, the House of Representatives dropped a provision providing $15.6 billion in funding to support efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic after lawmakers withdrew proposed relief money offsets that would have cut aid states. relying on.
Everett Kelly, national president of the American Federation of Public Employees, the largest union for federal employees, welcomed the passage of the bill but said it was “nothing to celebrate.”
Due to constant threats of a government shutdown by political obstructionists and the uncertainty caused by ongoing temporary solutions, federal agencies have been forced to operate for a year and a half in accordance with the previous administration’s budgetary priorities.” he said.
“Going forward, ideally starting with fiscal year 2023, only six months away, Congress should pass agency operating budgets in a timely manner to ensure that government agencies avoid unnecessary impediments to the mission of the American people.”
Updated at 14:54 GMT.
14:31 GMT 14:31
Harris: U.S. Commitment to NATO Article 5 “Iron”
Speaking in Bucharest, Kamala Harris reaffirmed the US commitment to NATO Article 5, according to which an attack on one member is an attack on all. Echoing the president, she said the US was ready to defend “every inch” of NATO territory, declaring the alliance “bigger and stronger than ever” and “iron.”
The message, delivered from the former Soviet satellite state, was meant to calm nerves in Eastern Europe and send a clear message to the Russian president. Vladimir Putin if he escalates the war beyond Ukraine.
Speaking to Yohannis, Harris said she was touched by his stories of refugees fleeing Ukraine. She thanked Romania for accepting tens of thousands of refugees with “such sympathy and such grace.”
Updated at 14:56 GMT.
14:11 GMT 14:11
Good morning.
Welcome to our live news broadcast in Washington DC and across the country.
Soon we will hear from Joe Bidenwhere he is expected to announce that the US will join the G7 countries and the European Union in calling for a suspension of normal trade relations with Russia to punish Moscow for what the White House calls its “unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine.”
He will then travel to Philadelphia, where House Democrats are locked in for a three-day retreat that started off badly, with members angry and frustrated over the machinations that delayed and nearly derailed the passage of a $1.5 trillion omnibus funding bill. The President will deliver a speech at the conference, rallying his party ahead of what is expected to be a tough midterm for Democrats.
The measure, which includes aid to Ukraine and funding for the federal government through September, was passed by the Senate late Thursday. Now he goes to Biden’s desk for a signature.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris completes the trip to Poland and Romania. Any minute she’ll show up with the Romanian president Klaus Johannis for a press conference.
Updated at 14:37 GMT.