New Delhi: On the back of Russia announcing independence of two separatist regions in Ukraine, Western countries have issued crushing sanctions against the nation. Germany made the first big move, taking steps to halt certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia a massive, lucrative deal long sought by Moscow but criticised by the US for increasing Europe’s reliance on Russian energy supplies.
In Washington, US President Joe Biden announced financial sanctions as punishment for what he called the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Biden ordered heavy US financial sanctions against Russian banks and oligarchs on Tuesday, stepping up the West’s confrontation with Moscow, even as Russian lawmakers authorised President Vladimir Putin to use military force outside their country.
Biden, in a brief address from the White House, accused Mr. Putin of flagrantly violating international law in what he called the “beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine,” and promised that more sanctions would be coming if Putin proceeds further.
The President joined the 27 European Union members who unanimously agreed on Tuesday to levy their own initial set of sanctions targeting Russian officials over their actions in Ukraine.
Biden said he was also moving additional US troops to the Baltic states on NATO’s eastern flank bordering Russia. The prime minister of Estonia and presidents of Latvia and Lithuania on Friday had made a direct plea to Vice President Kamala Harris for the US to step up its presence in the Baltics.