US President Joe Biden has announced a series of sanctions on Russia following Vladimir Putin's decision to move troops into eastern parts of Ukraine.
Mr Biden hit out at Putin in a scathing response, saying "there is no justification" for Russia's actions against Ukraine.
The US President outlined a series of actions in what he describes as "robust" sanctions.
Ukrainian service members are seen on the front line near the city of Novoluhanske in the Donetsk region, Ukraine February 20, 2022. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
GLEB GARANICH
He announced a US sanctioning of Russian state development corporation VEB and Russia's military bank, and Moscow is now cut off from Western financing.
Mr Biden also insists that NordStream2 "will not move forward" as he outlined his country's response to Russian actions.
"We're announcing full blocking sanctions on two large Russian financial institutions, VEB and their military bank.
"We're implementing comprehensive sanctions on Russia's sovereign debt, that means we've cut off Russia's government from Western financing".
Furthermore, the US President said the US would also continue to provide “defensive assistance” to Ukraine, and he had authorised the movement of US forces to other Baltic states.
He told the press briefing: “In response to Russia’s admission that it will not withdraw its forces from Belarus, I have authorised additional movements of US forces and equipment already stationed in Europe to strengthen our Baltic allies – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
“Let me be clear, these are totally defensive moves on our part. We have no intention of fighting Russia.
“We want to send an unmistakable message though, that the United States together with our allies will defend every inch of Nato territory and abide by the commitments we made into Nato".
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