Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Russian Announcement for Ukraine
Statement Statement by Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Russian Announcement on Eastern Ukraine, we have anticipated a move like this from Russia and are ready to respond immediately.
President Biden will issue an Executive Order that will prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine. This E.O. will also provide authority to impose sanctions on any person determined to operate in those areas of Ukraine.
The Departments of State and Treasury will have additional details shortly. We will also soon announce additional measures related to today’s blatant violation of Russia’s international commitments.
JUST IN: President Biden says the U.S. will sanction Russian financial firms, sovereign debt and individuals. “This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.” https://t.co/BJ3CXRPMHo pic.twitter.com/wZfrZCbmEF
— CNBC (@CNBC) February 22, 2022
To be clear: these measures are separate from and would be in addition to the swift and severe economic measures we have been preparing in coordination with Allies and partners should Russia further invade Ukraine.
We are continuing to closely consult with Allies and partners, including Ukraine, on next steps and on Russia’s ongoing escalation along the border with Ukraine.
Moscow is set to withdraw its diplomatic staff from Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday, accusing Kiev of failing to abide by its international obligations to ensure their security.
“The Russian Embassy in Kiev and the Consulates General of our country in Odessa, Lvov, and Kharkov have been repeatedly attacked,” the statement reads. “Russian diplomats have also become the target of aggressive actions. They received threats of physical violence. Their cars were burned,” it continued.
The Kiev authorities have failed to act on these threats and to protect the Russian diplomats “despite their obligations under the Vienna Convention,” the ministry said, referring to the framework agreement on diplomatic relations.
The statement ended with the announcement that Russian diplomatic staff would be evacuated from Ukraine “in the near future.”
