President Joe Biden White House speech addressing Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Biden gives speech on Russian invasion of Ukraine

Biden announced additional economic sanctions to be imposed on Russia by the US and its Western allies in response to what the US President said was a "premeditated attack" on Ukraine. 

"Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences," said Biden. 

The US president said he had no plans to speak to his Russian counterpart who ordered the military invasion of Ukraine late on Wednesday night. 

President Joe Biden will give a White House address shortly on the escalating situation in Eastern Europe after Russian forces launched an attack on several Ukrainian cities overnight. For months the Russian military had been gathering along Ukraine’s eastern border but President Vladimir Putin had maintained that they were only there for training purposes.

However in recent hours bombs have fallen on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, as well as Kharkiv in the east. There are unconfirmed reports of civilian deaths and Russian forces continue to move west through the Donbas region.

In response President Biden is expected to issue tough new sanctions on Russia but will stop short of sending troops to Ukraine. The Eastern European nation is not a member of NATO and so does not benefit from that protection. However Biden has sent thousands of American troops to neighbouring NATO nations to ensure that the Russian expansion is contained in Europe.

Biden is scheduled to speak at 1:30pm ET and his remarks will be broadcast live here…