Biden vows to slap more sanctions on Russia, says 'Putin chose this war'

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Joe Biden vowed Thursday to impose more sanctions on Russia for its military intervention in Ukraine, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin "chose this war."

"Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war and now he and his country will bear the consequences," Biden said at a White House address, adding that he was "authorizing additional strong sanctions and new limitations on what can be exported to Russia."

"This is going to impose severe cost on the Russian economy, both immediately and over time. We have purposely designed these sanctions to maximize a long-term impact on Russia, and to minimize the impact on the United States and our allies," he added.

The sanctions announced Thursday include limiting Russia's ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds and yen as part of the global economy, stopping its ability to finance and grow the Russian military, impairing Moscow’s ability to compete in high-tech 21st century economy and sanctioning four more banks, including the second-largest bank in Russia.

When asked about the relationship between the US and Russia, Biden responded: "There is a complete rupture right now in US-Russian relations," He added that he had no plans to talk to Putin amid the intervention.

Putin announced a military intervention in Ukraine early Thursday, days after recognizing two breakaway enclaves in eastern Ukraine, drawing international condemnation and vows of tougher sanctions on Moscow.

Explosions were reported in several Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, and tanks reportedly crossed the border from Belarus into Ukraine.

In recent weeks, US officials accused Russia of amassing more than 150,000 troops around Ukraine to launch a military attack but Moscow repeatedly denied any intent to launch an invasion.