As he had anticipated for weeks, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, announced this Thursday a “devastating” package of economic and trade sanctions to punish Russia for the invasion of Ukraine that were classified by the Treasury Department as historic and unprecedented.
At the same time, the US president ordered the deployment of thousands of soldiers to Europe, as well as combat aircraft and other resources that will be used in the defense of NATO member countries if necessary.
Read more: Kiev, a besieged capital that fears an imminent fall
A few hours after the Russian assault on the former Soviet republic began, Biden addressed Americans for the second time this week to denounce the actions of President Vladimir Putin and explain to the country the new measures and the risks involved. they run.
“Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will pay the consequences. This aggression must be answered because if we don’t, then it will be worse. America stands up to thugs, stands up for freedom. That is what we are,” the president said after warning that relations between Washington and Moscow were “completely broken.”
(Also read: What effect would new Western sanctions have on Russia?)
These are actions and phrases that made clear the seriousness of the moment the world is experiencing and the uncertainty that reigns over what may happen.
According to Biden and the Treasury Department, the new sanctions they include a total blockade of Russian banking as well as 80 percent of all its assets and 90 other subsidiary financial institutions around the world.
Likewise, the export of certain types of technology, which are key to the aerospace and communications industry, was prohibited, and dozens of Russian millionaires and their families were sanctioned, whose accounts were frozen.
Part of the punishment was also directed at individuals in Belarus for having supported the Russian attack on Kiev.
Biden himself acknowledged that the sanctions do not stop the Russian advance and that they will take time to take effect. “But he knows what’s coming,” said the president.
He also warned Americans that while the measures had been designed to limit a domestic impact, will have consequences for the US economy. Especially in gasoline costs, which were already high and will continue to rise in the coming days and weeks.
But a shock, said the editorial of the Washington Postabsolutely necessary in order to stop a greater evil.
(You may be interested: The EU responds to Russia with the largest package of sanctions in its history)
“The US does not have a mutual defense treaty with Ukraine and therefore is not obligated to defend it. But what is at stake is the peace and stability of Europe, a continent with 740 million people, with whom we share a longstanding commitment to democracy, countless family ties, and more than $1 trillion a year, on which we depend. million jobs”write this diary.
On the other hand, the Pentagon announced the sending of 7,000 additional men to Germany, in addition to another 8,500 that had already been deployed. And also F-35 planes that will guard the airspace of Estonia, Lithuania and Romania in case Putin wants to look beyond the current Ukrainian invasion.
And it was precisely at this point where the US president showed more forcefulness.
“I have made it very clear that the United States will defend every inch of NATO territory with the full might of our country. There can be no doubt that the US and allies will honor our Article 5 commitment that an attack on one is an attack on all,” Trump said.
In other words, he threatened Russia with open war if it ever set foot in NATO member countries.
And when asked if he was not afraid that Russia would interpret this as an act of hostility, Biden replied that Putin had to be stopped now. “I am convinced,” said the president, “that if we don’t move now, he will be emboldened.”
He clarified, yes, that the new troops will not set foot in Ukraine nor do they have the mission of defending this countrywhich is not a member of the alliance.
“Our troops – Biden argued – are not going to get involved in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. They are not going to Europe to fight that war, but they are going to defend our NATO allies.”
His words echoed those of the organization’s Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, according to whom NATO is now “more united and determined than ever after this brutal act of war attack.”
(Also: Alert in Ukraine: this is how Russia’s escalation is experienced in Kiev)
many analystsincluding Thomas Graham of the Council on Foreign Relations and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright They believe, in fact, that Putin made a serious strategic mistake, since he not only unified an alliance against him that was decimated, but also encouraged the entry of many other countries that already know what he is capable of.
Although there were some dissenting voices such as the former president Donald Trump, who once again applauded Putin’s courage, the invasion of Ukraine sparked a rare moment of bipartisanship in Washington, where a majority of Republicans and Democrats spoke with one voice to condemn the attacks.
“Putin is a very bad guy, an authoritarian who yearns for empire and we must do everything we can to stop him. We must use all the resources at our disposal,” said Mitch McConnell, the leader of the Republicans in the Senate shortly after the announcement. of Biden.
And so did former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush. According to Obama, every American, regardless of his party, has to surround Biden in this moment of crisis.
A feeling that could strengthen the Democratic president at a time when his popularity is on the floor.
The president is scheduled for a meeting this Friday with all the leaders of NATO member countries (30 in total) to coordinate a collective defense strategy against Russia.
SERGIO GÒMEZ MASERI
Correspondent of THE TIME
Washington
On Twitter @sergom68
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