The ‘big news’ in Joe Biden’s Russian sanctions annoucement

US President Joe Biden has sent an “unmistakable message” condemning Russia’s incursions into Ukraine, and calling on the international community to block the move with sanctions.

Mr Biden says he expects a “massive military attack against Ukraine” and sanctions imposed by the US will go far beyond those implemented against Russia in 2014.

“This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine,” he said.

The US will introduce sanctions on major Russian financial institutions – VEB and the military bank – and comprehensive sanctions on the nation’s foreign debt.

Germany has halted approval for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

US sanctions will also be imposed on Russia’s elite and their family members.

“They share in the corrupt gains of the Kremlin policies and should share in the pain as well,” Mr Biden said.

The US President warned “Russia will pay and even steeper price if it continues its aggression”.

The US will continue to provide defensive assistance to Ukraine and additional American forces will be deployed to Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.

Professor of global affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Hal Brands, says the “big news” in Mr Biden’s sanction announcement is Germany withholding certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

“That was one of the big, particularly symbolic thing the United States had been looking for,” he told Ross and Russel.

Professor Brands says this is “probably just the beginning” of Russia’s incursions into Ukraine.

“I don’t think he’s planning on leaving anytime soon. I think the plan is probably the incorporate, ultimately, parts of eastern Ukraine into the Russian Federation.”

Press PLAY below to hear how Hal Brands thinks the conflict will unfold

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