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>> The President: Sorry to keep
you waiting.
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Good afternoon.
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The Russian military
has begun a brutal assault
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on the people of Ukraine
without provocation,
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without justification,
without necessity.
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This is a premeditated attack.
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Vladimir Putin has been
planning this for months,
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as I've been --
as we've been saying all along.
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He moved more
than 175,000 troops,
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military equipment
into positions
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along the Ukrainian border.
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He moved blood supplies
into position
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and built a field hospital,
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which tells you
all you need to know
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about his intentions
all along.
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He rejected every good-faith
effort
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the United States and our Allies
and partners made to address
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our mutual security
concerns through dialogue
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to avoid needless conflict
and avert human suffering.
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For weeks -- for weeks,
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we have been warning
that this would happen.
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And now it's unfolding largely
as we predicted.
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In the past week, we've seen
shelling increase in the Donbas,
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the region in eastern Ukraine
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controlled by
Russian-backed separatists.
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Rus- -- the Russian government
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has perpetrated cyberattacks
against Ukraine.
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We saw a staged political
theater in Moscow --
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outlandish and baseless claims
that Ukraine was --
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Ukraine was about to invade
and launch a war against Russia,
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that Ukraine was prepared
to use chemical weapons,
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that Ukraine
committed a genocide --
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without any evidence.
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We saw a flagrant violation
of international law
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in attempting to
unilaterally create
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two new so-called republics on
sovereign Ukrainian territory.
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And at the very moment that the
United Nations Security Council
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was meeting to stand up
for Ukraine's sovereignty
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to stave off invasion,
Putin declared his war.
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Within moments -- moments,
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missile strikes began to fall on
historic cities across Ukraine.
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Then came in the air raids,
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followed by tanks
and troops rolling in.
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We've been transparent
with the world.
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We've shared
declassified evidence
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about Russia's plans and
cyberattacks and false pretexts
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so that there can be
no confusion or cover-up
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about what Putin was doing.
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Putin is the aggressor.
Putin chose this war.
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And now he and his country
will bear the consequences.
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Today, I'm authorizing
additional strong sanctions
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and new limitations on
what can be exported to Russia.
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This is going to impose severe
costs on the Russian economy,
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both immediately
and over time.
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We have purposefully designed
these sanctions
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to maximize
the long-term impact on Russia
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and to minimize the impact
on the United States
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and our Allies.
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And I want to be clear:
The United States
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is not doing this alone.
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For months, we've been
building a coalition of partners
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representing well more than half
of the global economy.
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Twenty-seven members
of the European Union,
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including France,
Germany, Italy --
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as well as the United Kingdom,
Canada, Japan, Australia,
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New Zealand,
and many others --
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to amplify the joint impact
of our response.
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I just spoke with the G7 leaders
this morning,
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and we are in full
and total agreement.
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We will limit Russia's ability
to do business in Dollars,
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Euros, Pounds, and Yen to be
part of the global economy.
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We will limit their ability
to do that.
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We are going to stunt the
ability to finance and grow Rus-
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-- the Russian military.
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We're going to impose major --
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and we're going to impair
their ability to compete
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in a high-tech 21st
century economy.
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We've already seen the impact
of our actions
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on Russia's currency,
the Ruble, which early today
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hit its weakest level ever --
ever in history.
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And the Russian stock market
plunged today.
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The Russian government's
borrowing rate
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spiked by over 15 percent.
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In today's actions, we have now
sanctioned Russian banks
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that together hold around
$1 trillion in assets.
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We've cut off Russia's largest
bank --
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a bank that holds more
than one third
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of Russia's banking assets
by itself --
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cut it off from
the U.S. financial system.
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And today, we're also blocking
four more major banks.
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That means every asset they have
in America will be frozen.
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This includes V.T.B., the
second-largest bank in Russia,
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which has $250 billion
in assets.
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As promised, we're also
adding names
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to the list of Russian elites
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and their family members
that are sanctioning --
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that we're sanctioning as well.
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As I said on Tuesday,
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these are people who personally
gain from the Kremlin's policies
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and they should share
in the pain.
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We will keep up this drumbeat
of those designations
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against corrupt billionaires
in the days ahead.
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On Tuesday, we stopped
the Russian government
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from raising money
from U.S. or European investors.
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Now, we're going to apply
the same restrictions
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to Russia's largest
state-owned enterprises --
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companies with assets
that exceed $1.4 trillion.
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Some of the most powerful
impacts of our actions
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will come over time
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as we squeeze Russia's access
to finance and technology
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for strategic sectors
of its economy and degrade
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its industrial capacity
for years to come.
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Between our actions and those
of our Allies and partners,
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we estimate
that we'll cut off more
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than half of
Russia's high-tech imports.
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It will strike a blow
to their ability
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to continue to modernize
their military.
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It'll degrade
their aerospace industry,
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including their space program.
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It will hurt their ability
to build ships,
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reducing their ability
to compete economically.
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And it will be a major hit
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to Putin's
long-term strategic ambitions.
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And we're preparing to do more.
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In addition to the economic
penalties we're imposing,
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we're also taking steps
to defend our NATO
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Allies,
particularly in the east.
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Tomorrow, NATO will convene
a summit -- we'll be there --
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to bring together the leaders
of 30 Allied nations
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and close partners
to affirm our solidarity
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and to map out the next steps
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we will take
to further strengthen
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all aspects
of our NATO Alliance.
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Although we provided
over $650 million
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in defensive assistance
to Ukraine just this year --
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this last year,
let me say it again:
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Our forces are not
and will not be engaged
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in the conflict
with Russia in Ukraine.
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Our forces are not going
to Europe to fight in Ukraine
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but to defend our NATO
Allies and reassure those
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Allies in the east.
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As I made crystal clear,
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the United States will defend
every inch of NATO territory
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with the full force
of American power.
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And the good news is:
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NATO is more united
and more determined than ever.
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There is no doubt --
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no doubt that
the United States and every NATO
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Ally will meet
our Article 5 commitments,
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which says that an attack on one
is an attack on all.
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Over the past few weeks,
I ordered thousands
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of additional forces
to Germany and Poland
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as part of our commitment
to NATO.
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On Tuesday, in response
to Russia's aggressive action,
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including its troop presence
in Belarus and the Black Sea,
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I've authorized the deployment
of ground and air
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forces already stationed in
Europe to NATO's eastern flank
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Allies: Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Poland, and Romania.
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Our Allies have also been
stepping up, adding -- the other
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Allies, the rest of NATO --
adding their own forces
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and capabilities to ensure
our collective defense.
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And today, within hours of
Russia's unleashing its assault,
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NATO came together and
authorized and activated --
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an activation of response plans.
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This will enable NATO's
high-readiness
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forces to deploy and --
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when and where they're needed
to protect our NATO
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Allies on the eastern boundaries
of Europe.
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And now I'm authorizing
additional U.S. forces
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and capabilities to deploy
to Germany
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as part of NATO's response,
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including
some of U.S.-based forces
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that the Department of Defense
placed on standby weeks ago.
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I've also spoken with Defense
Secretary Austin
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and Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs,
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General Milley,
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about preparations
for additional moves
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should they become necessary
to protect our NATO Allies
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and support the greatest
military Alliance
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in the history of the world --
NATO.
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As we respond, my administration
is using the tools --
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every tool at our disposal
to protect American families
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and businesses from
rising prices at the gas pump.
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You know, we're taking active
steps to bring down the costs.
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And American oil
and gas companies should not --
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should not exploit this moment
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to hike their prices
to raise profits.
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You know, in our sanctions
package,
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we specifically designed
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to allow energy payments
to continue.
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We are closely monitoring energy
supplies for any disruption.
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We have been coordinating
with major oil producing
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and consuming countries
toward our common interest
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to secure
global energy supplies.
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We are actively working
with countries
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around the world
to elevate [evaluate]
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a collective release from
the Strategic Petroleum Reserves
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of major energy-consuming
countries.
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And the United States
will release additional barrels
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of oil
as conditions warrant.
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I know this is hard and that
Americans are already hurting.
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I will do everything
in my power
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to limit the pain
the American people
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are feeling at the gas pump.
This is critical to me.
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But this aggression
cannot go unanswered.
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If it did, the consequences
for America would be much worse.
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America stands up to bullies.
We stand up for freedom.
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This is who we are.
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Let me also repeat the warning
I made last week:
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If Russia pursues cyberattacks
against our companies,
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our critical infrastructure,
we are prepared to respond.
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For months, we have been working
closely with our private --
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with the private sector
to harden their cyber defenses,
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sharpen our ability to respond
to Russian cyberattacks as well.
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I spoke late last night to
President Zelenskyy of Ukraine
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and I assured him
that the United States,
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together with our Allies
and partners in Europe,
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will support
the Ukrainian people
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as they defend their country.
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We'll provide humanitarian
relief to ease their suffering.
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And in the early days
of this conflict,
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Russian propaganda outlets will
keep trying to hide the truth
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and claim success
for its military operation
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against a made-up threat.
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But history has shown time
and again
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how swift gains in territory
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eventually give way
to grinding occupations,
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acts of mass civil --
mass civil disobedience,
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and strategic dead-ends.
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The next few weeks and months
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will be hard
on the people of Ukraine.
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Putin has unleashed
a great pain on them.
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But the Ukrainian people have
known 30 years of independence,
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and they have repeatedly shown
that they will not tolerate
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anyone who tries to take
their country backwards.
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This is a dangerous moment
for all of Europe,
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for the freedom
around the world.
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Putin has a --
has committed an assault
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on the very principles
that uphold global peace.
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But now the entire world
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sees clearly
what Putin and his Kremlin --
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and his Kremlin allies
are really all about.
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This was never about genuine
security concerns on their part.
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It was always about
naked aggression,
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about Putin's desire for empire
by any means necessary --
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by bullying Russia's neighbors
through coercion and corruption,
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by changing borders
by force,
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and, ultimately, by choosing
a war without a cause.
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Putin's actions betray
his sinister vision
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for the future
of our world --
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one where nations take
what they want by force.
252
00:12:28,550 --> 00:12:30,470
But it is a vision
that the United States
253
00:12:30,470 --> 00:12:32,910
and freedom-loving nations
everywhere will oppose
254
00:12:32,910 --> 00:12:35,009
with every tool
of our considerable power.
255
00:12:35,860 --> 00:12:37,410
The United States and our Allies
256
00:12:37,410 --> 00:12:39,610
and partners will emerge
from this stronger,
257
00:12:40,310 --> 00:12:42,880
more united, more determined,
and more purposeful.
258
00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:46,700
And Putin's aggression
against Ukraine
259
00:12:46,700 --> 00:12:48,499
will end up costing Russia
dearly --
260
00:12:49,130 --> 00:12:53,040
economically and strategically.
We will make sure of that.
261
00:12:54,290 --> 00:12:56,850
Putin will be a pariah
on the international stage.
262
00:12:57,600 --> 00:12:59,060
Any nation that countenances
263
00:12:59,060 --> 00:13:01,530
Russia's naked aggression
against Ukraine
264
00:13:01,530 --> 00:13:03,370
will be stained
by association.
265
00:13:05,010 --> 00:13:07,350
When the history of this era
is written,
266
00:13:07,350 --> 00:13:12,080
Putin's choice to make a totally
unjustifiable war on Ukraine
267
00:13:12,690 --> 00:13:17,030
will have left Russia weaker and
the rest of the world stronger.
268
00:13:17,910 --> 00:13:20,050
Liberty, democracy,
human dignity --
269
00:13:20,050 --> 00:13:22,490
these are the forces
far more powerful
270
00:13:23,050 --> 00:13:27,060
than fear and oppression.
They cannot be extinguished
271
00:13:27,060 --> 00:13:29,220
by tyrants like Putin
and his armies.
272
00:13:30,230 --> 00:13:32,160
They cannot be erased
by people --
273
00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:34,600
from people's hearts and hopes
274
00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,750
by any amount of violence
and intimidation.
275
00:13:37,390 --> 00:13:39,450
They endure.
276
00:13:39,450 --> 00:13:42,040
And in the contest
between democracy and autocracy,
277
00:13:42,890 --> 00:13:44,820
between sovereignty
and subjugation,
278
00:13:45,430 --> 00:13:48,610
make no mistake:
Freedom will prevail.
279
00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:52,830
God bless the people of a free
and democratic Ukraine.
280
00:13:52,830 --> 00:13:54,530
And may God
protect our troops.
281
00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:57,750
>> The Press: President Biden --
282
00:13:57,750 --> 00:13:59,300
>> The President:
Associated Press, Zeke.
283
00:13:59,300 --> 00:14:00,900
>> The Press: Chris Megerian.
284
00:14:01,990 --> 00:14:03,920
So, do you have any plans
to speak
285
00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:05,640
with President Putin
at this point?
286
00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:08,230
And what interactions have you
had with the Russian government?
287
00:14:08,230 --> 00:14:09,450
>> The President:
I heard the first part:
288
00:14:09,450 --> 00:14:11,220
Do I have any plans to speak
with Putin at this point.
289
00:14:11,220 --> 00:14:12,430
And what?
290
00:14:12,430 --> 00:14:13,670
>> The Press: What
communications have you had
291
00:14:13,670 --> 00:14:15,730
with the Kremlin
as far as military
292
00:14:15,730 --> 00:14:17,000
(inaudible)
in Ukraine and making sure
293
00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,050
this does not spiral
into a larger conflict?
294
00:14:19,050 --> 00:14:20,560
>> The President: Well, it's
a large conflict already.
295
00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:21,760
The way we're going to assure
296
00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:23,810
it's not going to spiral
to a larger conflict
297
00:14:23,810 --> 00:14:27,580
is by providing all the forces
needed in the Eastern European
298
00:14:27,580 --> 00:14:29,470
nations
that are members of NATO.
299
00:14:30,150 --> 00:14:32,600
NATO is more united
than it's ever been.
300
00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:34,550
And I have no plans
to talk with Putin.
301
00:14:39,130 --> 00:14:41,570
Wall Street Journal, Tarina
[Tarini].
302
00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,260
>> The Press: Mr. President,
you didn't mention SWIFT
303
00:14:47,260 --> 00:14:49,310
in your sanctions
that you announced.
304
00:14:49,310 --> 00:14:52,610
Is there a reason
why the U.S. isn't doing that?
305
00:14:52,610 --> 00:14:56,260
Is there disagreement
among Allies regarding SWIFT
306
00:14:56,260 --> 00:14:59,500
and whether Russia should be
allowed to be a part of it?
307
00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:02,120
>> The President: The sanctions
that we have proposed
308
00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:04,470
on all their banks
is of equal consequence --
309
00:15:04,470 --> 00:15:06,870
maybe more consequence
than SWIFT -- number one.
310
00:15:07,380 --> 00:15:10,500
Number two,
it is always an option.
311
00:15:10,500 --> 00:15:12,450
But right now,
that's not the position
312
00:15:12,450 --> 00:15:14,670
that the rest of Europe
wishes to take.
313
00:15:16,950 --> 00:15:19,830
Cecilia Ve- -- Vega, ABC.
314
00:15:19,830 --> 00:15:22,400
>> The Press: Thank you, sir.
315
00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:24,230
Sir, sanctions clearly
have not been enough
316
00:15:24,230 --> 00:15:26,400
to deter Vladimir Putin
to this point.
317
00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:30,920
What is going to stop him?
How and when does this end?
318
00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:33,900
And do you see him
trying to go beyond Ukraine?
319
00:15:33,900 --> 00:15:35,700
And a second question
I'll just give to you now:
320
00:15:35,700 --> 00:15:37,770
This statement that he gave
last night will --
321
00:15:37,770 --> 00:15:39,350
that the We- --
the threat that he gave --
322
00:15:39,350 --> 00:15:41,900
the West "will face
consequences greater
323
00:15:41,900 --> 00:15:43,490
than any you have
faced in history."
324
00:15:43,490 --> 00:15:45,240
Is he threatening
a nuclear strike?
325
00:15:47,130 --> 00:15:49,850
>> The President: I have no idea
what he's threatening.
326
00:15:49,850 --> 00:15:52,100
I know what he has done,
number one.
327
00:15:52,850 --> 00:15:56,780
And number two, no one expected
the sanctions
328
00:15:56,780 --> 00:15:59,060
to prevent anything
from happening.
329
00:16:00,090 --> 00:16:02,380
That has to sh- --
this is going to take time.
330
00:16:02,380 --> 00:16:05,750
And we have to show resolve
so he knows what's coming
331
00:16:05,750 --> 00:16:08,870
and so the people of Russia
know what he's brought on them.
332
00:16:08,870 --> 00:16:10,670
That's what this is all about.
333
00:16:10,670 --> 00:16:13,040
This is going to take time.
It's not going to occur --
334
00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:15,280
he's going to say, "Oh my God,
these sanctions are coming.
335
00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:16,910
I'm going to stand down."
336
00:16:16,910 --> 00:16:18,720
He's going to test the resolve
of the West
337
00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:20,750
to see if we stay together.
And we will.
338
00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:24,260
We will and it will impose
significant costs on him.
339
00:16:24,260 --> 00:16:26,070
>> The Press:
Will he go beyond Ukraine, sir?
340
00:16:26,070 --> 00:16:27,460
Do you see him
going beyond Ukraine?
341
00:16:27,460 --> 00:16:28,940
>> The Press: Mr. President --
Mr. President --
342
00:16:28,940 --> 00:16:30,140
>> The President: Yes.
343
00:16:30,140 --> 00:16:32,410
>> The Press: Thank you.
Two topics, just really quick.
344
00:16:32,410 --> 00:16:36,180
First, markets are down
and gas prices are up.
345
00:16:36,180 --> 00:16:37,960
I know you always
stress the difference
346
00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:40,800
between Wall Street
and Main Street,
347
00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:45,570
but everybody seems to be in
for some economic pain.
348
00:16:45,570 --> 00:16:47,780
How economically painful
349
00:16:47,780 --> 00:16:50,520
is it going to get
for people in this country?
350
00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:52,000
And I do have one more question.
351
00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,650
>> The President: First of all,
there's no doubt
352
00:16:54,650 --> 00:16:58,140
that when a major
nuclear power attacks
353
00:16:58,140 --> 00:16:59,810
and invades another country
354
00:16:59,810 --> 00:17:02,590
that the world is going
to respond and markets
355
00:17:02,590 --> 00:17:04,550
are going to respond
all over the world.
356
00:17:04,550 --> 00:17:07,380
So, there's no doubt
about that, number one.
357
00:17:07,380 --> 00:17:11,530
Number two, the notion that this
is going to last
358
00:17:11,530 --> 00:17:14,010
for a long time
is highly unlikely,
359
00:17:14,010 --> 00:17:17,310
as long as we continue
to stay resolved in imposing
360
00:17:17,310 --> 00:17:22,040
the sanctions we're going
to impose on Russia, period.
361
00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:23,650
What's your next question?
I'm sorry.
362
00:17:23,650 --> 00:17:25,160
>> The Press: The next question
is:
363
00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:27,630
Did you underestimate Putin?
364
00:17:27,630 --> 00:17:29,240
And would you still describe him
the way
365
00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:32,390
that you did in the summer,
as a "worthy adversary"?
366
00:17:33,430 --> 00:17:35,760
>> The President:
At the time, he was --
367
00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:37,340
I made it clear
he was an adversary,
368
00:17:37,340 --> 00:17:40,270
and I said he was "worthy."
I didn't underestimate him.
369
00:17:40,270 --> 00:17:42,630
And I've read most of everything
he's written.
370
00:17:42,630 --> 00:17:44,010
Did you read the --
I shouldn't sa- --
371
00:17:44,010 --> 00:17:45,940
I'm not being a wise guy.
372
00:17:45,940 --> 00:17:48,300
The -- you heard the speech
he made --
373
00:17:48,300 --> 00:17:49,730
almost an hour's
worth of speeches --
374
00:17:49,730 --> 00:17:51,330
why he was going into Ukraine.
375
00:17:52,010 --> 00:17:54,320
He has much larger ambitions
in Ukraine.
376
00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:55,870
He wants to, in fact,
377
00:17:55,870 --> 00:17:57,980
reestablish
the former Soviet Union.
378
00:17:58,530 --> 00:18:00,120
That's what this is about.
379
00:18:00,120 --> 00:18:04,210
And I think that his --
his ambitions are --
380
00:18:06,230 --> 00:18:08,180
are completely contrary
381
00:18:08,180 --> 00:18:09,940
to the place where the rest
of the world has arrived.
382
00:18:09,940 --> 00:18:11,210
>> The Press: President Biden --
President Biden --
383
00:18:11,210 --> 00:18:12,500
>> The Press: And --
and with that --
384
00:18:12,500 --> 00:18:13,740
with his ambitions,
you're confident
385
00:18:13,740 --> 00:18:18,140
that these devastating sanctions
are going to be as devastating
386
00:18:18,140 --> 00:18:20,550
as Russian missiles
and bullets and tanks?
387
00:18:22,270 --> 00:18:23,740
>> The President: Yes.
388
00:18:23,740 --> 00:18:26,240
Russian bullets, missiles,
and tanks in Ukraine.
389
00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:28,760
Yes, I am.
390
00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:31,700
>> The Press: Thank you,
President Biden.
391
00:18:31,700 --> 00:18:34,660
If sanctions cannot stop
President Putin,
392
00:18:34,660 --> 00:18:36,550
what penalty can?
393
00:18:36,550 --> 00:18:38,580
>> The President: I didn't say
sanctions couldn't stop him.
394
00:18:38,580 --> 00:18:40,170
>> The Press: But you've been
talking about the threat
395
00:18:40,170 --> 00:18:41,720
of these sanctions
for several weeks now --
396
00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:43,540
>> The President: Yes,
but the threat of the sanctions
397
00:18:43,540 --> 00:18:44,770
and imposing the sanctions
398
00:18:44,770 --> 00:18:46,040
and seeing the effect
of the sanctions
399
00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:47,260
are two different things.
400
00:18:47,260 --> 00:18:48,480
>> The Press: Okay, but --
401
00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:49,720
>> The President:
They're two different things.
402
00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:50,940
And we're now going to --
403
00:18:50,940 --> 00:18:53,700
he's going to begin to see
the effect of the sanctions.
404
00:18:54,530 --> 00:18:55,820
>> The Press: And what will that
do --
405
00:18:55,820 --> 00:18:57,440
how will that change
his mindset here,
406
00:18:57,440 --> 00:18:58,790
given he's attacking Ukraine
as we speak?
407
00:18:58,790 --> 00:19:00,630
>> The President: Because it
will so weaken his country
408
00:19:00,630 --> 00:19:03,710
that he'll have to make
a very, very difficult choices
409
00:19:03,710 --> 00:19:05,610
of whether to continue
to move toward
410
00:19:05,610 --> 00:19:08,860
being a second-rate power
or, in fact, respond.
411
00:19:08,860 --> 00:19:10,090
>> The Press: You said,
in recent weeks,
412
00:19:10,090 --> 00:19:11,730
that big nations cannot bluff
413
00:19:11,730 --> 00:19:13,160
when it comes
to something like this.
414
00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:16,160
You recently said that the idea
of personally sanctioning
415
00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:17,560
President
Putin was on the table.
416
00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:18,980
Is that a step
that you're prepared to take?
417
00:19:18,980 --> 00:19:20,230
And if not --
418
00:19:20,230 --> 00:19:21,920
>> The President: It's not
a bluff; it's on the table.
419
00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:23,180
>> The Press: Sanctioning
President Putin?
420
00:19:23,180 --> 00:19:24,390
>> The President: Yes.
421
00:19:24,390 --> 00:19:25,990
>> The Press: Why not
sanction him today, sir?
422
00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:28,310
Why not sanction him today, sir?
423
00:19:28,310 --> 00:19:29,870
>> The Press: Mr. President --
424
00:19:29,870 --> 00:19:31,080
>> The Press: Mr. President,
if I can,
425
00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:33,870
you detailed some severe
and swift new sanctions today
426
00:19:33,870 --> 00:19:35,970
and said the impact
it will have over time,
427
00:19:35,970 --> 00:19:38,140
but given the full-scale
invasion,
428
00:19:38,140 --> 00:19:41,490
given that you're not pursuing
disconnecting Russia
429
00:19:41,490 --> 00:19:42,700
from what's called "SWIFT" --
430
00:19:42,700 --> 00:19:44,300
the international
banking system --
431
00:19:44,300 --> 00:19:46,680
or other sanctions
at your disposal,
432
00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:50,270
respectfully, sir,
what more are you waiting for?
433
00:19:50,270 --> 00:19:51,470
>> The President: Specifically,
434
00:19:51,470 --> 00:19:54,400
the sanctions
we've imposed exceed SWIFT.
435
00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:57,800
The sanctions we imposed exceed
anything that's ever been done.
436
00:19:57,800 --> 00:20:00,130
The sanctions we imposed
have generated
437
00:20:00,130 --> 00:20:02,230
two thirds of the world
joining us.
438
00:20:02,230 --> 00:20:04,340
They are profound sanctions.
439
00:20:04,340 --> 00:20:06,380
Let's have a conversation
in another month
440
00:20:06,380 --> 00:20:07,760
or so to see if they're working.
Yes.
441
00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:08,960
>> The Press: Let me ask you
about --
442
00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:10,210
can I ask you about Zelenskyy?
443
00:20:10,210 --> 00:20:12,820
Sir, you spoke to Volodymyr
Zelenskyy yesterday, sir,
444
00:20:12,820 --> 00:20:14,520
if I could follow up --
445
00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:16,830
>> The Press: What's the risk
that we are watching
446
00:20:16,830 --> 00:20:18,790
the beginning
of another Cold War?
447
00:20:18,790 --> 00:20:21,030
And is there now
a complete rupture in U.S.
448
00:20:21,030 --> 00:20:22,400
and Russian relations?
449
00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:23,690
>> The President: There is a
complete rupture
450
00:20:23,690 --> 00:20:25,750
right now
in U.S.-Russian relations
451
00:20:26,310 --> 00:20:28,950
if they continue on this path
that they're on.
452
00:20:28,950 --> 00:20:31,930
And in terms of a Cold War,
that depends.
453
00:20:31,930 --> 00:20:34,130
You have the vast majority
of the rest of the world
454
00:20:34,130 --> 00:20:36,600
in total opposition
to what he's doing --
455
00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:40,550
from Asia to South America
to Europe to acr- --
456
00:20:40,550 --> 00:20:41,900
around the world.
457
00:20:41,900 --> 00:20:44,640
And so, it's going to be
a cold day for Russia.
458
00:20:45,180 --> 00:20:47,350
The idea -- you don't see
a whole lot of people
459
00:20:47,350 --> 00:20:48,990
coming to his defense.
460
00:20:49,790 --> 00:20:51,080
>> The Press: And are you --
are you --
461
00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:52,290
if I could follow-up, sir.
462
00:20:52,290 --> 00:20:55,130
Are you urging China
to help isolate Russia?
463
00:20:55,130 --> 00:20:57,330
Are you urging China
to help isolate Russia?
464
00:20:58,450 --> 00:20:59,650
>> The President: I'm not
prepared
465
00:20:59,650 --> 00:21:01,299
to comment
on that at the moment.
466
00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:08,220
(Cross-talk)
467
00:21:08,220 --> 00:21:09,610
>> The Press: Mr. President --
468
00:21:09,610 --> 00:21:12,180
>> The President: Wait. No, no.
Yeah.
469
00:21:13,410 --> 00:21:16,040
No, no, no. He's had
his hand up a long time.
470
00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:17,300
>> The Press: Thank you, Mr.
President.
471
00:21:17,300 --> 00:21:20,750
How concerned are you that
Putin wants to go beyond Ukraine
472
00:21:20,750 --> 00:21:22,120
into other countries
and the U.S.
473
00:21:22,120 --> 00:21:24,640
will have to get involved
if he moves into NATO countries?
474
00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:25,870
>> The President: Well, if he
did move
475
00:21:25,870 --> 00:21:27,380
into NATO countries,
he will be involved --
476
00:21:27,380 --> 00:21:28,580
we will be involved.
477
00:21:28,580 --> 00:21:30,390
The only thing that
I'm convinced of is:
478
00:21:30,390 --> 00:21:32,500
If we don't stop now,
he'll be emboldened.
479
00:21:33,270 --> 00:21:34,960
If we don't move against him now
480
00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:37,920
with these
significant sanctions,
481
00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:39,720
he will be emboldened.
482
00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:43,140
Look, you know, every --
well, anyway.
483
00:21:43,140 --> 00:21:44,430
>> The Press: And can you talk
484
00:21:44,430 --> 00:21:46,430
anything more
about your conversation --
485
00:21:47,710 --> 00:21:57,940
(Cross-talk)
486
00:21:58,490 --> 00:22:03,160
>> The President: I'm sorry, I
can't hear you.
487
00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:05,340
>> The Press: Sir, India,
which is a major defense partner
488
00:22:05,340 --> 00:22:07,950
of the United States --
is India with --
489
00:22:07,950 --> 00:22:10,450
fully with you on the issue
of Ukraine and Russia?
490
00:22:11,310 --> 00:22:12,620
>> The President: Does the
Defense Department
491
00:22:12,620 --> 00:22:13,830
of the United States --
492
00:22:13,830 --> 00:22:16,600
>> The Press: Sir, India is one
of your major defense partners.
493
00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:20,650
Is India fully in sync
with United States on Russia?
494
00:22:20,650 --> 00:22:21,870
>> The President: We're going to
be --
495
00:22:21,870 --> 00:22:24,420
we're in consultation with --
with India today.
496
00:22:24,420 --> 00:22:26,150
We haven't resolved
that completely.
497
00:22:26,150 --> 00:22:27,370
>> The Press:
One more question --
498
00:22:27,370 --> 00:22:28,600
(Cross-talk.)
499
00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:30,200
>> The President: Okay, thank
you all very much.
500
00:22:31,070 --> 00:22:35,200
Thank you.