Remarks by President Biden Ahead of the One-Year Anniversary of Russia’s Brutal and Unprovoked Invasion of Ukraine

Hello, Poland!  (Applause.)  One of our great allies.  President Duda, Prime Minister — Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. Mayor, and to all the former ministers and presidents, as well as mayors and Polish political leaders from all across the country: Thank you for welcoming me back to Poland. You know, it was nearly one year ago ... Read More»

One Year of Supporting Ukraine

Nearly one year ago, Russia launched its unjust, brutal assault against Ukraine. Putin’s invasion was a test of Ukraine’s commitment to freedom, and a test for America and the world. Putin sought to subjugate Ukraine, but the free people of Ukraine stood strong—bravely defending their sovereignty and democracy. The United States, alongside our allies and partners, ... Read More»

More Than $3.75 Billion in U.S. Military Assistance to Ukraine and Countries Impacted by Russia’s Brutal War

In this first week of 2023, the United States continues to stand strongly behind Ukraine and our European allies and partners by announcing more than $3.75 billion in new military assistance.  This assistance includes a $2.85 billion drawdown from stocks of the Department of Defense to be provided immediately to Ukraine and $225 million in ... Read More»

Countries rally to help Ukraine through the winter

More than 70 countries and institutions have pledged over 1 billion euros to help Ukrainians through the winter amid the Kremlin’s ongoing military attacks on civilian infrastructure, including the electricity grid. The funding was announced during the “Standing with the Ukrainian People” conference in Paris December 13. It will support Ukraine’s infrastructure and improve access to electricity, ... Read More»

Russia’s playbook to gain influence

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attempts to annex Ukrainian territories under the guise of protecting Russian speakers living in those areas are strikingly familiar. Moscow has been rolling out the same playbook it used in 2014 when Russia invaded Crimea and forcibly seized parts of eastern Ukraine. As it did in 2014 in Crimea, Russia installed pro-Putin officials ... Read More»

Life in Russia-occupied Ukraine

The people of Ukraine are fighting to maintain their daily routine despite Russia’s brutal attempts to deny Ukraine’s sovereignty and suppress their identity and culture. Russia’s “annexation playbook” seeks to undermine all aspects of civilian life in Ukraine. As it did in 2014 in Crimea, Russia implemented tighter controls when it staged sham referenda in four of Ukraine’s ... Read More»

Statement of President Joe Biden on the United Nations General Assembly Vote Condemning Russia’s Illegal Attempts to Annex Ukrainian Territory

Today, the overwhelming majority of the world—nations from every region, large and small, representing a wide array of ideologies and governments – voted to defend the United Nations Charter and condemn Russia’s illegal attempt to annex Ukrainian territory by force. 143 nations stood on the side of freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity—even more than the ... Read More»

U.S. Support for Ukraine in the Face of Russian Strikes

The Kremlin’s strikes against Ukraine today again place the stakes of Russia’s brutal war into stark relief. Russian bombs hit children’s playgrounds and public parks in Kyiv; wave after wave of missiles struck Kyiv’s city streets and damaged heating and targets without military purpose throughout Ukraine. I extend my deepest sympathies to the people of ... Read More»

Russia’s efforts to annex parts of Ukraine denounced worldwide

“The United States does not, and will never, recognize any of the Kremlin’s claims to sovereignty over parts of Ukraine that it’s seized by force and now purports to incorporate into Russia,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said September 30. Moscow’s latest illegal bid to change Ukraine’s borders by force prompted a quick international rebuke. Read More»

Imposing Swift and Severe Costs in Response to Russia’s Violations of Ukraine’s Sovereignty

The United States unequivocally rejects Russia’s fraudulent attempt to change Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders, including by holding sham “referenda” in Ukraine’s Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya regions. This is a clear violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. In response, the United States and our allies and partners are imposing swift and severe ... Read More»

Russia’s Sham Referenda in Ukraine

The Kremlin’s sham referenda are a futile effort to mask what amounts to a further attempt at a land grab in Ukraine.  To be clear: the results were orchestrated in Moscow and do not reflect the will of the people of Ukraine.  The United States does not, and will never, recognize the legitimacy or outcome ... Read More»

Statement from President Biden on Russia’s Sham Referenda in Ukraine

The United States will never recognize Ukrainian territory as anything other than part of Ukraine. Russia’s referenda are a sham – a false pretext to try to annex parts of Ukraine by force in flagrant violation of international law, including the United Nations Charter. We will work with our allies and partners to impose additional swift ... Read More»

Documenting Russia’s Destructive Impact on Food Storage in Ukraine

President Putin’s unjustified war against Ukraine puts millions around the globe at risk of increasing food insecurity. The Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, one of the world’s largest exporters of food, has led to the damage or outright destruction of many of Ukraine’s arterial roads, railways, ports, and food storage facilities that are essential to ... Read More»

Exposing human rights abuses associated with Russia’s filtration operations in Ukraine

“Filtered. The word does not begin to convey the horror and the depravity of these pre-meditated policies,” said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield during a September 7 U.N. Security Council Meeting. Thomas-Greenfield detailed for the council the numerous mounting and credible reports of the Russian government’s filtration sites in parts of eastern Ukraine ... Read More»

$2.8 Billion in Additional U.S. Military Assistance for Ukraine and Its Neighbors

It has been seven months since President Putin’s February invasion of Ukraine, and the war’s terrible toll continues to mount. Thousands of civilians killed or wounded, 13 million Ukrainian civilians forced to flee their homes, historic cities pounded to rubble, horrifying reports of ongoing atrocities, nuclear power stations put at risk, food shortages, skyrocketing food ... Read More»

Kremlin plans sham referendums to annex parts of Ukraine

The Kremlin is orchestrating sham referendums in parts of Ukraine currently under its military control in a bid to legitimize Russia’s hold on these territories. Moscow is rolling out the same playbook it used in 2014 when Russia invaded Crimea and forcibly seized parts of eastern Ukraine. As it did in 2014 in Crimea, Russia has installed ... Read More»

Faces of Kremlin propaganda: Margarita Simonyan

To succeed in Russia’s state media environment, individuals need to promote the Kremlin line. Margarita Simonyan learned that lesson at a young age. As a reporter covering the war in Chechnya in the early 2000s, she promoted the Kremlin’s viewpoint. The Kremlin seemed to reward Simonyan for her loyalty by appointing her head of Russia’s first ... Read More»

Report: Russia’s filtration operations violate international humanitarian law

The Russian government is potentially engaging in torture and forced labor at filtration areas in eastern Ukraine, according to a new report from Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab. Satellite imagery also indicates the potential presence of graves at one facility. The report used open-source data cross-referenced against recent high-resolution satellite imagery. Only sites whose location and activities ... Read More»

Anniversary of the Russian Invasion of Georgia

Fourteen years ago today, Russia invaded the sovereign nation of Georgia.  As we have done since 2008, we remember those killed and injured by Russian forces.  For decades, the citizens of Georgia in Abkhazia and South Ossetia have lived under Russian occupation and tens of thousands have been displaced, persecuted, and impoverished.  Lives and livelihoods ... Read More»

The United States Strongly Condemns the Russian Missile Attack Against Odesa

The United States strongly condemns the Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian port of Odesa today. Just 24 hours after finalizing a deal to allow the resumption of Ukrainian agricultural exports through the Black Sea, Russia breached its commitments by attacking the historic port from which grain and agricultural exports would again be transported under ... Read More»

Russia’s “Filtration” Operations, Forced Disappearances, and Mass Deportations of Ukrainian Citizens 

On the eve of the Ukraine Accountability Conference, the United States calls on Russia to immediately halt its systematic “filtration” operations and forced deportations in Russian-controlled and held areas of Ukraine.  The unlawful transfer and deportation of protected persons is a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians and is a war crime.  Russian ... Read More»

To Vilify Ukraine, The Kremlin Resorts to Antisemitism

One of the Kremlin’s most common disinformation narratives to justify its devastating war against the people of Ukraine is the lie that Russia is pursuing the “denazification” of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has referred to Ukraine’s democratically elected government as a “gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis,” while Russian state media and propagandists have repeatedly called for the “denazification” of the entire ... Read More»

Putin’s war sends global food prices skyrocketing

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine is contributing to rising food prices and threatening food supplies around the world. In Ukraine, Russia’s forces have destroyed farms, bombed warehouses, ruined fields, and seized tractors and other equipment for fortifications, according to news reports. Land mines have forced Ukrainians to abandon their farms, and a Russian Navy blockade of Ukrainian ... Read More»

Targeting Russia’s War Machine

The United States reaffirms our commitment to working alongside our allies and partners to further impose severe consequences on President Putin and his supporters for Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war against the government and people of Ukraine.  Today, the Departments of State and the Treasury are imposing sanctions on additional entities and individuals, including Russia’s ... Read More»

$1 Billion of New U.S. Military Assistance for Ukraine

Today, we announced an additional $1 billion in additional military assistance for Ukraine.  Pursuant to a delegation of authority from the President, I am authorizing our twelfth drawdown of arms and equipment from U.S. Department of Defense inventories for Ukraine’s defense since August 2021, valued at up to $350 million.  This authorization, combined with $650 ... Read More»

Statement by President Joe Biden on Support for Ukraine and Call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine

This morning, I spoke with President Zelenskyy to discuss Russia’s brutal and ongoing war against Ukraine. I reaffirmed my commitment that the United States will stand by Ukraine as it defends its democracy and support its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of unprovoked Russian aggression. I informed President Zelenskyy that the United States ... Read More»

The Russian military’s history of atrocities

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces in Ukraine have destroyed apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, shopping centers and ambulances, leaving thousands of civilians killed or wounded. Mounting evidence indicates that the Russian Federation’s forces are torturing and killing civilians in the cities they capture. After Russia’s forces withdrew from the Kyiv suburb of Bucha, city officials recovered ... Read More»

Launch of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA) for Ukraine

The United States, along with the European Union and the United Kingdom, has created the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA).  This joint initiative will directly support the efforts of the War Crimes Units of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine (OPG) to document, preserve, and analyze evidence of war crimes and other atrocities ... Read More»

Joint Statement from the EU, U.S., and UK on the establishment of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA) for Ukraine

Today, the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom announced the creation of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA), a mechanism aimed at ensuring efficient coordination of their respective support to accountability efforts on the ground. The ACA will reinforce current EU, US and UK efforts to further accountability for atrocity crimes in the context ... Read More»

U.S. rushes humanitarian aid to Ukraine

The U.S. government has provided more than $688 million in humanitarian assistance to help the people of Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began on February 24. The aid comes as Russia’s war of aggression has displaced 7.7 million people within Ukraine and forced more than 6 million to flee to neighboring countries. This humanitarian assistance — through the U.S. Agency for ... Read More»

War in Ukraine damages major cultural sites

Russia’s war against Ukraine has damaged more than 260 sites important to Ukraine’s culture, new reports show. “This is a struggle for our cultural heritage,” said Ihor Poshyvailo, general director of the National Memorial and the Maidan Museum, during an online discussion April 28 hosted by the National Museum of American Diplomacy. The Russian military’s constant bombing of Ukraine ... Read More»

Raising the Flag at U.S. Embassy Kyiv

Three months ago, we lowered our flag over the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, just days before Russian forces streamed across Ukraine’s border to carry out President Putin’s unprovoked, unjustified war of choice.  When we suspended operations at the embassy, we made the point clear: while we would relocate U.S. embassy personnel for their safety ... Read More»

Promoting Accountability for War Crimes and Other Atrocities in Ukraine

The U.S. Department of State is announcing the launch of a new Conflict Observatory to capture, analyze, and make widely available evidence of Russia-perpetrated war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine.  The program encompasses the documentation, verification, and dissemination of open-source evidence regarding the actions of Russia’s forces during President Putin’s brutal war of choice. Read More»

Promoting Accountability for War Crimes and Other Atrocities in Ukraine

The U.S. Department of State is announcing the launch of a new Conflict Observatory to capture, analyze, and make widely available evidence of Russia-perpetrated war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine.  The program encompasses the documentation, verification, and dissemination of open-source evidence regarding the actions of Russia’s forces during President Putin’s brutal war of choice. Read More»

U.S. supports countries amid Putin’s food crisis

Russia’s war in Ukraine has resulted in more than 5.7 million refugees fleeing Ukraine into neighboring countries while an estimated 7.7 million people are internally displaced in the country, according to the U.N. A major consequence of this war is that, while Russian President Vladimir Putin destroys farms in Ukraine, people around the world go ... Read More»

G7 Foreign Ministers’ Statement on Russia’s War Against Ukraine

We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, are steadfast in our solidarity with and our support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s unjustifiable, unprovoked and illegal war of aggression, a war in which ... Read More»

G7 Leaders’ Statement

Today, on 8 May, we, the Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), alongside Ukraine and the wider global community, commemorate the end of the Second World War in Europe and the liberation from fascism and the National Socialist reign of terror, which caused immeasurable destruction, unspeakable horrors and human suffering. We mourn the millions ... Read More»

Fact Sheet: U.S. and G7 Partners Impose Severe Costs for Putin’s War Against Ukraine

Our unprecedented sanctions are already exacting an immense toll on Russia’s economy and our export controls have strangled Russia’s access to critical technology and the supply chains it needs to sustain its military ambitions. Putin’s war is projected to wipe out the last 15 years of economic gains in Russia. As a result of our ... Read More»

Countries expel Russian diplomats in protest over Ukraine

Nations are sending a loud message in response to Russia’s February full-scale invasion of Ukraine: They’re ordering Russian officials to leave. An estimated 400 Russian diplomatic officials were expelled from Europe since the invasion, according to Foreign Policy magazine. Among NATO members, at least 24 out of 30 member states asked Russian officials to leave. Read More»

Remarks by President Biden on the Request to Congress for Additional Funding to Support Ukraine

Hello, everybody.  Good morning.  I just signed a request to Congress for critical security, economic, and humanitarian assistance to help Ukraine continue to counter Putin’s aggression and — at a very pivotal moment. We need this bill to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom.  And our NATO Allies, our EU partners — they’re going ... Read More»

Statement by WH Press Secretary Psaki on the Bilateral Meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Draghi of Italy

President Biden looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy to the White House on May 10, 2022.  The visit will reaffirm the deep bonds of friendship and strong partnership between the United States and Italy.  The leaders will discuss their ongoing coordination with Allies and partners on measures to support of the people ... Read More»

Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Call with French, German, Italian, and UK Counterparts

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke today with French MFA Secretary General Francois Delattre, German MFA State Secretary Andreas Michaelis, Italian MFA Secretary General Ettore Sequi, and UK Minister of State for Europe and North America James Cleverly. Deputy Secretary Sherman condemned Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked war of choice against Ukraine and its brutal ... Read More»

Promoting Accountability for Human Rights Abuses in Russia and Belarus and Taking Action Against Sanctions Evaders

President Putin’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine, conducted with the complicity of the Lukashenka regime, continues to cause needless suffering and thousands of civilian casualties.  The world has witnessed the horrors of this war in the images from the Ukrainian towns of Bucha, Irpin, and Hostomel, and in Ukrainian towns and cities still occupied or under ... Read More»

Readout of the President’s Call with Allies and Partners

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. hosted a videoconference today with Allies and partners to discuss international support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, including the ongoing provision of security, economic, and humanitarian assistance.  The leaders affirmed their solidarity with the Ukrainian people and condemned the humanitarian suffering caused by Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified ... Read More»

G7 Foreign Ministers’ Statement on Russia’s War of Aggression Against Ukraine

We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, condemn in the strongest terms the atrocities committed by the Russian armed forces in Bucha and a number of other Ukrainian towns. Haunting images of civilian deaths, ... Read More»

Secretary Antony J. Blinken Press Availability at the Meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers

Two weeks after my last trip here with President Biden, we’re back in Brussels as part of this administration’s ongoing and urgent efforts with allies and partners to counter the Russian Government’s war of aggression in Ukraine and to stand up for the principles necessary to maintaining international peace and security. Together, we are sustaining ... Read More»

Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with French, German, Italian, and UK Counterparts

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, and UK Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss today in Brussels, where they reiterated their commitment to supporting Ukraine in the face of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion. Read More»

Targeting Additional Russian Financial Institutions, Officials, and Other Individuals

The United States is united with our allies and partners to ensure the Government of Russia pays a severe price for causing such death and destruction in Ukraine, and particularly for the horrors in Bucha and elsewhere.  In furtherance of this goal, today we are implementing full blocking sanctions on two key Russian financial institutions: Sberbank, ... Read More»

Additional Sanctions on Russia’s Technology Companies and Cyber Actors

The United States will continue to impose severe costs on the Russian Federation in response to President Putin’s illegal war.  Today, we are targeting entities and individuals in our efforts to shut down the Kremlin’s sanctions evasion networks, which play an important role in the Russian Federation’s ability to continue its unconscionable war on the citizens ... Read More»

FACT SHEET: President Biden’s Plan to Respond to Putin’s Price Hike at the Pump

Americans face rising prices at the pump because of Putin’s Price Hike.  Since Putin accelerated his military build-up around Ukraine, gas prices have increased by nearly a dollar per gallon.  Because of Putin’s war of choice, less oil is getting to market, and the reduction in supply is raising prices at the pump for Americans.  ... Read More»

Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Call with French, German, Italian, and UK Counterparts

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke today with French MFA Secretary General Francois Delattre, German MFA Political Director Tjorven Bellmann, Italian MFA Secretary General Ettore Sequi, and UK Minister of State for Europe and North America James Cleverly. The Deputy Secretary reiterated the United States’ support for Ukraine’s diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire ... Read More»

Readout of President Biden’s Call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine

President Biden spoke today with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine about the ongoing work by the United States and its allies and partners to deliver military, economic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and to impose severe costs on Russia for its brutal aggression against Ukraine. The leaders discussed how the United States is working around the ... Read More»

U.S.-EU Joint Press Release by the EEAS and Department of State on the First U.S.-EU High-Level Dialogue on Russia

The European Union and the United States held today in Washington, D.C., the first U.S.-EU High-Level Dialogue on Russia.  Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland represented the United States and European External Action Service Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs Enrique Mora represented the European Union.  This high-level meeting follows the commitments ... Read More»

Biden, NATO allies pledge billions in new Ukraine aid

President Biden met with NATO allies March 24 to demonstrate unity with Ukraine and condemn Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war. During his first trip to Europe since Russia’s forces further invaded Ukraine, Biden announced more than $1 billion in additional U.S. humanitarian assistance for those affected by Vladimir Putin’s war. He also unveiled new measures to ... Read More»

President Joe Biden’s Call with President Macron, Chancellor Scholz, Prime Minister Draghi and Prime Minister Johnson

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom.  The leaders affirmed their determination to continue raising costs on Russia for its brutal attacks in Ukraine, as well as to continue ... Read More»

Racing to protect Ukraine’s cultural heritage

Art and culture professionals from Ukraine, the United States and around the world are rushing to save Ukraine’s most treasured sites from Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war. The Russian military’s constant bombing of Ukraine has caused horrific human suffering. Bombs have hit communities throughout Ukraine, killing thousands and forcing millions of people to flee. “The situation for museums ... Read More»

Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Meeting with Italian MFA Secretary General Ettore Sequi

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman met today with Italian MFA Secretary General Ettore Sequi in Washington, D.C.  They discussed shared efforts to assist Ukraine in the face of Moscow’s unprovoked and unjustified war, to deliver humanitarian assistance to those fleeing Russia’s aggression, and to press the Kremlin to end its brutal attacks. Read More»

Statement from President Biden on the Extraordinary NATO Summit

NATO leaders met today on the one-month anniversary of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine to reiterate our strong support for the Ukrainian people, our determination to hold Russia accountable for its brutal war, and our commitment to strengthening the NATO Alliance. We had the privilege of hearing directly from President Zelenskyy, and we ... Read More»

War Crimes by Russia’s Forces in Ukraine

Since launching his unprovoked and unjust war of choice, Russian President Vladimir Putin has unleashed unrelenting violence that has caused death and destruction across Ukraine.  We’ve seen numerous credible reports of indiscriminate attacks and attacks deliberately targeting civilians, as well as other atrocities.  Russia’s forces have destroyed apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, critical infrastructure, civilian vehicles, ... Read More»

‘We are horrified’: Russians in U.S. condemn invasion of Ukraine

People around the world are showing support for the people of Ukraine and condemning Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war — including many who were born in Russia and are now living in the United States. “Russian people have a moral duty to stand up and say something when Russia is doing something bad,” a 40-year-old woman named Yevgenia told ... Read More»

Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Call with French, German, Italian, and UK Counterparts

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke today with French MFA Secretary General Francois Delattre, German MFA Political Director Tjorven Bellmann, Italian MFA Secretary General Ettore Sequi, and UK Minister of State for Europe and North America James Cleverly. Deputy Secretary Sherman condemned President Putin’s increasingly brutal tactics that continue to kill civilians in this ... Read More»

Readout of President Joe Biden’s Call with European Leaders

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom.  The leaders discussed their serious concerns about Russia’s brutal tactics in Ukraine, including its attacks on civilians. They underscored their continued support for Ukraine, including by providing security assistance to ... Read More»

The United States deeply values Italy’s leadership and commitment to the people of Ukraine

Contrary to recent false and unattributed comments, Italy continues to demonstrate itself as a strong exporter of security and robust contributor to NATO along the Alliance’s Southern and Eastern Flanks. The Department of Defense appreciates the significant contributions Italy has made to Ukraine and in support of the Alliance. The U.S. will continue to work ... Read More»

Readout of the Administration’s Briefing of CEOs on Russia’s War against Ukraine

Today, Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Senior Advisor Cedric Richmond, and National Economic Council Director Brian Deese met with 16 CEOs of major companies across several industries including energy, food, and manufacturing to provide a briefing on the latest developments on Putin’s unprovoked and unjustified ... Read More»

Welcoming the International Court of Justice’s Order Directing the Russian Federation

The International Court of Justice today issued a significant ruling in Ukraine’s case against the Russian Federation under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The ruling clearly and unequivocally ordered Russia to immediately suspend the military operations Russia commenced last month and further directed Russia to ensure that anyone ... Read More»

$1 Billion in New U.S. Security Assistance for Ukraine This Week

In recent days, Russia has escalated its premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified war on Ukraine, striking hospitals, demolishing schools, leveling civilian infrastructure, and killing hundreds of civilians.  As Ukrainian forces bravely continue to combat Russia’s renewed invasion, the United States and its Allies and partners stand steadfast in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and ... Read More»

Remarks by President Biden on the Assistance the United States is Providing to Ukraine

Good afternoon.  I want to begin by thanking President Zelenskyy for his passionate message this morning.  I listened to it in the private residence, and he was convincing.  And — significant speech.      He speaks for a people who have shown remarkable courage and strength in the face of brutal aggression — courage and strength ... Read More»

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke today with General Nikolay Patrushev, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, to reiterate the United States’ firm and clear opposition to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. Mr. Sullivan clearly laid out the United States’ commitment to continue imposing costs on Russia, to support the defense of Ukraine’s ... Read More»

NSC Jake Sullivan’s Meetings with PM Mario Draghi and Diplomatic Advisor Luigi Mattiolo

On March 15, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met in Rome with Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy to discuss international cooperation in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This followed Mr. Sullivan’s meeting with Luigi Mattiolo, Diplomatic Advisor to the Prime Minister. The two senior officials discussed continued measures, including in coordination with the G7 ... Read More»

Additional Humanitarian Assistance for the People of Ukraine

The United States is providing over $186 million in additional humanitarian assistance to support internally displaced persons and the more than three million refugees affected by Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified war in Ukraine.  This will provide further support for humanitarian organizations responding to the crisis and complement the generosity of the neighboring countries that ... Read More»

U.S. Announces Sanctions on Key Members of Russia’s Defense Enterprise

The world has been transfixed as Russia has perpetrated a premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine.  Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine has resulted in widespread human suffering and casualties, including the deaths of innocent civilians, including children. Today, the Department of State is continuing to impose severe costs on Russian military leaders. Read More»

Promoting Accountability for Human Rights Abuses Perpetrated by the Governments of Russia and Belarus

The United States, with support from Allies and partners, is taking action to promote accountability for the Russian and Belarusian governments’ human rights abuses and violations within and outside their borders.  In doing so, we reiterate our condemnation of President Putin’s premeditated, unjustified, and unprovoked war against Ukraine, as well as the Lukashenka regime’s support and facilitation of the Russian Federation’s invasion.  President ... Read More»

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on Senior Administration Travel to Rome

On Monday, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and officials from the National Security Council and State Department will be in Rome. Sullivan will meet with Chinese Communist Party Politburo Member and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission Yang Jiechi as part of our ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication between ... Read More»

Vice President Kamala Harris Announces Additional U.S. Funding to Respond to Humanitarian Needs in Ukraine and Eastern Europe

March 10, 2022 During her trip to Warsaw, Poland, today, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris announced nearly $53 million in new humanitarian assistance from the United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), to support innocent civilians affected by Russia’s unjustified invasion of Ukraine. This additional assistance includes support to the UN World Food Program (WFP) ... Read More»

The Kremlin’s Allegations of Chemical and Biological Weapons Laboratories in Ukraine

The Kremlin is intentionally spreading outright lies that the United States and Ukraine are conducting chemical and biological weapons activities in Ukraine.  We have also seen PRC officials echo these conspiracy theories.  This Russian disinformation is total nonsense and not the first time Russia has invented such false claims against another country.  Also, these claims ... Read More»

Remarks by President Biden Announcing U.S. Ban on Imports of Russian Oil, Liquefied Natural Gas, and Coal

Good morning, folks.  Sorry to keep you waiting.  I was on a couple of phone calls.     Today I’m announcing the United States is targeting the main artery of Russia’s economy.     We’re banning all imports of Russian oil and gas and energy.   That means Russian oil will no longer be acceptable at U.S. ... Read More»

Ukraine Crisis

On February 24, 2022, Russian military forces conducted an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, causing hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. The people of Ukraine have been caught in the middle of conflict for nearly eight years, and there are currently 2.9 million in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. In addition to the ... Read More»

U.S. Multilateral Leadership on the Crisis in Ukraine

Since President Putin launched his unprovoked, unjustified, and unconscionable invasion of Ukraine over a week ago, the international community across continents has spoken with powerful unity to denounce Russia’s aggression and demand its cessation. Giving voice and purpose to that common cause requires ready international venues such as the United Nations, where the Russian government ... Read More»

Readout of President Biden’s Call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke this evening with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine.  President Biden highlighted the ongoing actions undertaken by the United States, its Allies and partners, and private industry to raise the costs on Russia for its aggression in Ukraine.  In particular, he welcomed the decision this evening by Visa and Mastercard ... Read More»

Targeting Russian Elites, Disinformation Outlets, and Defense Enterprises

The United States remains united with our allies and partners in our commitment to ensure the Government of Russia pays a severe economic and diplomatic price for its aggression against Ukraine.  Today we are targeting Russian elites and their financial networks and assets, major Russian disinformation outlets that contribute to the destabilization of Ukraine, and ... Read More»

Statement by the President on the United Nations General Assembly

Today, for the first time in 40 years, the United Nations Security Council convened an Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly under the Uniting for Peace mechanism in response to Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified, and unconscionable war on Ukraine. This extraordinary move by the United Nations demonstrates the extent of global outrage at Russia’s horrific ... Read More»

Media Crackdown in Russia

On March 1, Russia’s Prosecutor General ordered the communications authority RosKomNadzor to restrict access to the independent outlets Radio Ekho Moskvy and Dozhd TV, blocking their websites and ability to broadcast. The outlets were baselessly accused of “calling for extremist activity and violence” and sharing “deliberately false information about the actions of Russian military personnel ... Read More»

Readout of Vice President Harris’s Calls with European Leaders

Vice President Kamala Harris today had five separate calls with European leaders from NATO’s eastern flank to discuss our collective response to Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The Vice President spoke individually with: Prime Minister Kaja Kallas of Estonia; Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins of Latvia; Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte of Lithuania; Prime Minister ... Read More»

Ukraine’s Filing Against Russia at the International Court of Justice

On February 26, 2022, Ukraine filed an application at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to initiate proceedings against the Russian Federation under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Ukraine seeks to address Russia’s groundless claims that genocide has occurred in the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts of Ukraine and ... Read More»

Readout of President Biden’s Call with Allies and Partners

President Joseph R. Biden hosted a secure conference call today with Allies and partners about our unified response to Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked war on Ukraine. The leaders recognized the bravery of the Ukrainian people in the face of Russian aggression and discussed their continued support to Ukraine, including security, economic, and humanitarian assistance. They also discussed ... Read More»

Additional Measures Against the Russian Financial System

In coordination with our allies and partners, the United States is taking further measures today against the Russian financial system in response to Russia’s continuing premeditated war against Ukraine.  Unwavering in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, we will continue to act with our allies and partners in imposing costs on Russia if ... Read More»

The United States Announces Additional Humanitarian Assistance for the People of Ukraine

Our partnership with the people of Ukraine is steadfast and enduring, and we are focused on Ukraine’s urgent humanitarian needs as an important part of our response to Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack.  It is with the welfare of ordinary Ukrainians in mind that we are announcing the provision of nearly $54 million in ... Read More»

Secretary Blinken’s Call with G7 Foreign Ministers and Ukraine Foreign Minister Kuleba

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the High Representative of the European Union.  They were joined by the Foreign Minister of Ukraine to discuss the global response to Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine.  The Secretary ... Read More»

Joint Statement on Further Restrictive Economic Measures

We, the leaders of the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States condemn Putin’s war of choice and attacks on the sovereign nation and people of Ukraine. We stand with the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people in their heroic efforts to resist Russia’s invasion. Russia’s war represents an ... Read More»

Additional Military Assistance for Ukraine

Ukraine is a sovereign, democratic, and peace-loving nation. The United States and Ukraine have been partners since Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union more than 30 years ago. After Russia invaded and partially occupied Ukraine in 2014, the United States intensified efforts to help Ukraine deter further Russian aggression, and, if needed, to ... Read More»

Statement of the President on the NATO Summit and Call with President Zelenskyy

Today I met with fellow leaders from our NATO Allies to discuss our shared commitment to collective defense and Transatlantic security. As President Putin threatens the very foundations of international peace and security, NATO is once again demonstrating that it stands for freedom and democracy. As I said yesterday, the United States will defend every ... Read More»

Imposing Sanctions on President Putin and Three Other Senior Russian Officials

In coordination with allies and partners, we are imposing sanctions on President Putin and three members of Russia’s Security Council directly responsible for the further invasion of Ukraine: Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov, Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu, and First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces ... Read More»

Biden condemns Putin’s ‘unprovoked and unjustified’ invasion of Ukraine

In February 24 remarks at the White House, President Biden reiterated the United States, its allies and partners are united in their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and condemned Russia’s “flagrant violation of international law.” “In the contest between democracy and autocracy, between sovereignty and subjugation, make no mistake: Freedom will prevail,” the president said. Biden also outlined another ... Read More»

Remarks by President Biden on Russia’s Unprovoked and Unjustified Attack on Ukraine

This is a premeditated attack.  Vladimir Putin has been planning this for months, as I’ve been — as we’ve been saying all along.  He moved more than 175,000 troops, military equipment into positions along the Ukrainian border. He moved blood supplies into position and built a field hospital, which tells you all you need to ... Read More»

Joined by Allies and Partners, the United States Imposes Devastating Costs on Russia

Today, the United States, along with Allies and partners, is imposing severe and immediate economic costs on Russia in response to Putin’s war of choice against Ukraine. Today’s actions include sweeping financial sanctions and stringent export controls that will have profound impact on Russia’s economy, financial system, and access to cutting-edge technology. The sanctions measures ... Read More»

Statement from CdA Smitham on Russia’s Unjustified Attack on Ukraine

We thank Italy for its leadership and strong partnership. President Biden has condemned Russia’s unjustified aggression. PM Draghi and FM Di Maio issued strong condemnations of the unprovoked attack. Russia is violating international law and trampling on Ukraine's national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and right to make its own decisions. The world will hold Russia accountable. Read More»

Secretary Blinken’s Call with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke tonight with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to condemn Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine and discuss the Alliance’s coordinated response. The Secretary and the Secretary General also discussed further steps to ensure the security of Allied territory, especially on NATO’s Eastern Flank. Secretary Blinken stressed that the U.S. commitment to NATO’s ... Read More»
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