Biden announces ban on US imports of Russian oil, gas: LIVE UPDATES
President Joe Biden said Tuesday that the decision for the U.S. to ban Russian gas and oil imports is going to cause soaring domestic gas prices to rise even further, but added that he is "going to do everything I can to minimize Putin’s price hike here at home."
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U.S. To Send Two Patriot Batteries To Poland
The U.S. is sending two Patriot Batteries to Poland at the request of the Polish government in a move designed to bolster the country's defense amid ongoing tensions with Russia.
"At the direction of the Secretary of Defense and at the invitation of our Polish allies, General Wolters, Commander, of U.S. European Command has directed U.S. Army Europe and Africa to reposition two Patriot Batteries to Poland," European Command Spokesperson Scott Ghiringhelli said Tuesday.
"This defensive deployment is being conducted proactively to counter any potential threat to U.S. and Allied forces and NATO territory."
Zelenskyy thanks Biden for ban on Russian oil
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy he was thankful Tuesday after President Biden announced a U.S. ban on Russian oil, natural gas and coal.
Zelenskyy said the ban was "striking in the heart of Putin’s war machine ... Encourage other countries and leaders to follow."
Some Western companies decline to join corporate exodus from Russia over Ukraine invasion
The corporate exodus from Russia continued Tuesday as McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Starbucks, and Pepsi announced that they are temporarily suspending business in Russia over Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
Hundreds of well-known companies, from Apple to Levi's, announced in the early days of the war they would stop doing business with Russia.
Consumers started applying pressure to big brands who were holding out as hashtags like #BoycottMcDonalds and #BoycottCocaCola trended on Twitter in recent days.
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Jesse Watters presses Lindsey Graham on Ukraine joining NATO
Sen. Graham discusses Putin’s ambitions in Ukraine and the U.S. foreign policy leading up to Russia's invasion on ‘Jesse Watters Primetime.’
Russian military appears to be pushing toward Kyiv
American military veterans travel to Ukraine to help rescue refugees, bring medical aid and supplies
Russia suspends foreign currency sales as ruble crashes amid economic fallout over Ukraine invasion
Russia’s central bank, faced with unprecedented sanctions and a plummeting ruble, said Wednesday it was suspending the sale of foreign currencies through September.
Between March 9 and September 9, Russian banks "will not be able to sell foreign currencies to citizens," the central bank said in a statement, adding that it will be possible to exchange cash currency for rubles at any time and any amount.
During that window, cash withdrawals from foreign currency accounts at Russian banks will be limited to $10,000. Any withdrawals above that amount would be converted to rubles at the current exchange rates.
Dual Russian-U.S. citizen charged with acting as Kremlin spy: DOJ
She was born in the Soviet Union and emigrated to the U.S. at 30. Nine years later, in 1999, she became an American citizen.
Then more than a decade later, the Department of Justice alleges, she became a spy on behalf of Vladimir Putin and Russia.
Elena Branson, 61, is accused of flouting the Foreign Agent Registration Act, or FARA, and failing to properly inform the U.S. government she was working on behalf of the Kremlin.
Russians continue to bombard Ukraine, attempt to encircle Kyiv
New York Times pulls reporters out of Russia as Putin threatens imprisonment
The New York Times announced on Tuesday that it will temporarily pull its reporters out of Russia after President Vladimir Putin effectively banned dissenting information about his invasion of Ukraine.
Putin signed a new bill on Friday imposing prison sentences of up to 15 years for those spreading information that goes against the Russian government’s narrative on the war. Under the new legislation, the Times writes, journalists who use the term "war" to describe could be sentenced to prison.
"Russia’s new legislation seeks to criminalize independent, accurate news reporting about the war against Ukraine. For the safety and security of our editorial staff working in the region, we are moving them out of the country for now," a spokeswoman for The Times, Danielle Rhoades Ha, announced.
Poland’s proposal to send fighter jets to NATO base not ‘pre-consulted’ with US
Russian airstrikes kill 21 people in Northeast Ukraine
Poland throttles up support for Ukraine with offer to hand over fighter jets; Pentagon pumps brakes
Poland offered to give its entire fleet of MiG-29 fighter jets to the U.S. in exchange for a chance to buy American F-16s as part of a deal to bolster the Ukrainian air force while upgrading the Poles’ with NATO aircraft.
"The authorities of the Republic of Poland, after consultations between the President and the Government, are ready to deploy – immediately and free of charge – all their MIG-29 jets to the Ramstein Air Base and place them at the disposal of the Government of the United States of America," the Polish Foreign Ministry said in a statement Tuesday. "At the same time, Poland requests the United States to provide us with used aircraft with corresponding operational capabilities. Poland is ready to immediately establish the conditions of purchase of the planes."
Saudi and UAE leaders decline to speak to Biden but do field calls from Putin
The leaders of both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates declined overtures from the White House to set up a call with President Biden, according to reporting from the Wall Street Journal.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the U.A.E.’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan have declined to speak with Biden in recent weeks, a U.S. official told WSJ, but both leaders did field calls from Russian President Vladimir Putin last week.
“There was some expectation of a phone call, but it didn’t happen,“ said a U.S. official of the planned discussion between the Saudi Prince Mohammed and Mr. Biden. ”It was part of turning on the spigot [of Saudi oil].”
Russia 'does not want a direct conflict with US forces,' intelligence community assessed in January
US intelligence officials in January assessed that Russia did "not want a direct conflict with U.S. forces," but instead, sought "U.S. recognition" of its "claimed sphere of influence" over much of the former Soviet Union.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Tuesday released its 2022 annual threat assessment, which was submitted in early February. The assessment only includes intelligence through the end of January—weeks before Russia launched its multi-front war against Ukraine.
The intelligence community's assessment states that Russia "will remain an influential power and a formidable challenge to the United States amidst the changing geopolitical landscape during the next decade."
Starbucks, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo suspend operations in Russia; Amazon suspends web services sign-ups
Starbucks, Coca-Cola and Amazon have joined the growing list of companies imposing their own punishments on Russia over Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine.
In a statement on its website on Monday, Coca-Cola announced it was suspending its business in Russia saying, "Our hearts are with the people who are enduring unconscionable effects from these tragic events in Ukraine" and the beverage giant "We will continue to monitor and assess the situation as circumstances evolve."
Russian prima ballerina denounces Ukraine war: ‘Now the line is drawn’
Olga Smirnova, a prima ballerina from Russia, is speaking out against the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
A lead dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet, Smirnova said she is "ashamed of Russia" and publicly denounced its president, Vladimir Putin, for giving the order to invade the neighboring country.
"I cannot but say that with all the fibers of my soul I am against the war," Smirnova wrote on a newly-created Telegram account, according to the New York Post.
Ukraine looking for 'air supremacy' with help of Poland's MiG-29 jets: Gen. Jack Keane
Former Miss Ukraine urges Biden to close Ukrainian
Model Veronika Didusenko traveled through war-torn Ukraine and four countries before arriving in Los Angeles, where she appeared at a press conference Tuesday alongside attorney Gloria Allred to speak about actions needed to help her homeland.
Allred and Didusenko highlighted the dangers Ukrainian women and children are facing as they flee Russia's brutal attacks.
Allred urged President Joe Biden to implement Humanitarian Parole for Ukrainian refugees as soon as possible. Humanitarian Parole would allow refugees into the U.S. without a visa.
"This approach is necessary and urgent because the visa process could take many months," Allred said on Tuesday.
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