PRESIDENT Joe Biden is set to speak from the White House today on the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
Biden is set to provide an update on America’s response to the escalating situation in Russia and Ukraine, according to the White House.
The address will be Biden’s third in just one week, and comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops over the Russian border in a dramatic escalation of tensions.
In a further chilling development today, Russia’s parliament voted to allow Vladimir Putin to use armed forces abroad.
The much-feared Russian advance began in the early hours, soon after Putin announced he recognized Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states in a bombastic TV address.
Read our Joe Biden speech live blog for the latest news and updates…
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US moves embassy amid fears
The US moved all embassy staff out of Ukraine after Vladimir Putin ordered troops into the country’s rebel-held territories.
Bloomberg’s senior White House reporter, Jennifer Jacobs, tweeted: “The Biden admin has ordered all remaining State Department personnel out of Ukraine.
“The embassy had previously relocated from Kyiv to the western city of Lviv. Now they are shifting to Poland.”
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What has Putin said of the ‘invasion’?
The Russian president declared that the neighboring nation of Ukraine “belongs to Russia” as he followed through on promises to seize territory given up by the country in the fall of the Soviet Union.
Putin signed a decree recognizing the Donetsk and Luhansk rebel republic in east Ukraine in a move which destroyed peace hopes.
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UK’s response
The United Kingdom has also announced sanctions in response to Putin’s move into Ukraine.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday that sanctions were imposed on five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals following Putin’s decision to recognize two separatist republics.
Johnson was quoted as saying Putin was “establishing the pretext for full scale invasion” of Ukraine.
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Biden’s response to ‘invasion’
President Joe Biden responded to Putin ordering troops into Ukraine by announcing restrictions that limit financial activity in the two regions.
Biden is expected to announce new consequences on Tuesday, CNN reported.
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Putin ordered troops into Ukraine
Biden’s Tuesday news conference is his first public appearance following President Vladimir Putin’s order for troops to deploy to separatist regions in eastern Ukraine.
Putin declared two separatist-held regions of the area independent before ordering Russian troops into the areas.
