US Biden to Deliver Speech Soon... First Statement After Putin's Order to Deploy Troops to Ukraine

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] Amid growing fears of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden will deliver a speech on the Ukraine situation on the afternoon of the 22nd (local time).

This is his first public statement since Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the independence of the pro-Russian separatist-controlled areas in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region and ordered Russian troops to enter the area the day before.

According to CNN and other outlets, President Biden is scheduled to address Russia's actions related to the Ukraine situation starting at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, which corresponds to 4 a.m. Korean time. The original scheduled time was 1 p.m. local time but was later changed.

President Biden, judging that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen immediately, convened the National Security Council (NSC) on the 20th and 21st to monitor the situation. The day before, he also announced sanctions banning new U.S. investments, trade, and financing in the pro-Russian regions of eastern Ukraine.

The U.S. is also expected to announce additional sanctions on this day. Earlier, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki mentioned that these measures are separate from the economic actions that the U.S. and its allies have been discussing in preparation for a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will also hold a press conference after meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Washington this afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Russian Federation Council approved the use of troops outside Russian territory at President Putin's request on this day. In a vote, all 153 attending members approved the deployment of troops outside Russian territory as requested by President Putin. Furthermore, the president will decide on the number of troops dispatched overseas, their operational areas, garrison duties, and duration.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.