NewsNation will livestream Biden's remarks at 1 p.m. ET.
(NewsNation Now) — President Joe Biden will deliver remarks Tuesday on the escalating situation between Russia and Ukraine amid heightened fears of a war.
Russian troops moved into rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized their independence. Russia’s upper house of parliament gave Putin permission to use military force outside the country Tuesday afternoon — a move that could presage a broader attack on Ukraine.
NewsNation will livestream Biden's remarks in the player above.
The White House on Tuesday began referring to Russian troop deployments in eastern Ukraine as an “invasion” after initially hesitating to use the term — a red line that Biden has said would result in the U.S. levying severe sanctions against Moscow.
“An invasion is an invasion and that is what is underway,” said deputy national security adviser Jon Finer Tuesday.
Biden signed an executive order Monday that prohibits new investment, trade and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic regions of Ukraine. More sanctions are expected Tuesday.
Other world leaders are preparing to hit Putin's administration with sanctions as he heightened fears of war with legislation that would allow the deployment of troops to rebel-held regions of eastern Ukraine.
For weeks, Western powers have been bracing for an invasion as Russia massed an estimated 150,000 troops on three sides of neighboring Ukraine. They warned an attack would cause massive casualties, energy shortages in Europe and economic chaos around the globe — and promised swift and severe sanctions if it materialized. The European Union and Britain announced Tuesday that some of those measures were coming.
The West insisted Putin’s bold moves in Ukraine violated countless international agreements and since diplomacy has failed, it was time to move toward action.
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, NewsNation will bring Americans the latest developments from abroad and insights into its impact at home throughout our newscasts. We’re dropping the paywall on our live stream so it’s available to everyone. You can watch NewsNation’s programming, including the latest on Ukraine at the top of the hour, from 7a-10a and 5p-11p ET.
This story is developing. Refresh for updates.