Biden asks Congress to suspend Russia's permanent normal trade status over Ukraine, allowing for new tariffs. The move comes as Russia escalates its brutal attack on neighboring Ukraine. Biden's proposal would put Moscow's trade relationship with the U.S. In the same category as North Korea and Cuba. Ref. USAToday.
Russia tells US envoy that Russian-American relations are on the verge of rupture
The U.S. Ambassador to Russia was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow and warned that President Joe Biden's recent remarks have pushed Russian-American relations close to the breaking point. Biden described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "War criminal" last week as Russia's missile attacks on Ukraine cities intensified. Source 3v.
Russia should be booted from G-20, Biden says, a major step to further isolate the Kremlin and restrict Russia's say in the global economy. If the other members decline to revoke Russia’s membership, Ukraine should be permitted to attend G-20 meetings, Biden said after a meeting with key allies in Brussels. Source 5c.
Backtracking from Biden comment, Secretary of State Antony Blinken says US has no 'strategy of regime change in Russia': Hours after President Joe Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power,” Blinken told a news conference in Jerusalem that the United States does not have a plan to push Putin out of power. He said Biden "Made the point last night that, quite simply, President Putin cannot be empowered to wage war or engage in aggression against Ukraine or anyone else." Source 6l.
Biden says his comment that Putin cannot remain in power was about moral outrage, not a reflection of US policy. President Joe Biden insisted that he wasn't "Walking back" his remarks which stirred widespread criticism over the weekend, including from close US allies. “I want to make it clear, I wasn't then nor am I now articulating the policy change,” he said. “I was expressing moral outrage that I feel I make no apologies for." Source 4z.
Mariupol mayor says more than 5,000 civilians have died in Russian siege, including 210 children. "The world has not seen the scale of the tragedy in Mariupol since the existence of the Nazi concentration camps. This is the new Auschwitz and Majdanek," Mayor Vadym Boichenko said. Source 2k.
Biden describes Russia's actions in Ukraine as 'genocide' and calls Putin a 'dictator'. "Your family budget, your ability to fill up your tank, none of it should hinge on whether a dictator declares war and commits genocide a half a world away," President Joe Biden said in Iowa on Tuesday. Source 5n.
Biden says US will increase its military forces in Europe in response to Russia's war in Ukraine. At the NATO summit in Spain, President Joe Biden announced the U.S. Would establish a permanent troop in Poland and maintain an additional rotational brigade of 3,000 fighters and 2,000 personnel in Romania. The U.S. Is also sending two additional F-35 squadrons to the UK, stationing two more destroyers in Spain and will improve defense capabilities in Germany and Italy. Source 3i.