“Putin is the aggressor, Putin chose this war and now he and his country will bear the consequences,” said President Biden in his much-awaited first address to the public following the Russian Invasion of Ukraine, which heightened at midnight the previous night. His speech, delivered at 9:00 on February 24, 2022, targetted a means of pressuring Russia through sanctions, protecting the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and assuring Americans that the U.S. will neither send troops nor be affected at the Gas pump by these new sanctions. 

As NATO makes moves to convene a summit and Russia encroaches on the capital city of Kyiv, many wonders if the sanctions are “too little, too late?” 

The proposed sanctions aim to target a large portion of Russian industry and economy, gas. This is vital and will place pressure on the Russian economy as it is about 30% of the country’s GDP, and 60% of its exports, according to investopedia.com. President Biden sought to target the heart of Russian strength, the nation’s wealth, and influential elite. While these sanctions do not freeze President Vladimir Putin’s assets and only partially limit Russia’s involvement in world banks, the impact of these sanctions focuses on the strength of international coalitions. The European Union and the UK have agreed to begin placing similar sanctions on Russia to increase international pressure. The G7 (The Group of Seven Nations including France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the United States) is determined to impair Russia’s ability to play a role in the economy. The sanctions may indeed have some influence as shown by a recent plunge in the Russian stock market. Moreover, sanctions placed will cut off one of their largest banks, while American assets held by Russia have been frozen, including the accounts of select Russian officials. 

President Biden stated that these actions from the international community will be a “major hit Putin’s long term strategic ambitions”.

The President also addressed American concerns about sending troops to intervene and the expenses of the new sanctions impacting gas prices. Regarding gas prices, the President promised to work with oil companies to prevent the exploitation of the situation for profit. Furthermore, he stated that the White House will closely monitor these prices and go after companies that do raise their prices. The government will also release some of its reserve barrels to ease the impact. 

Biden’s defense of these sanctions amounted to “this aggression can’t go unanswered.”

A concern expressed by many is the possibility of Congress reintroducing the Draft as a result of the U.S. entering into another international conflict. However, Biden assures Americans that the US will only take military action if Putin determined to invade a NATO country, as he said we would honor Article 5. Aside from this, he assured the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zalensky, that relief will be given. President Biden added a few remarks regarding preparing to respond to possible cyberattacks from Russia, stating that the government would be working with the private sector.   

This “war without a cause”, as Biden referred to the war, has thus far resulted in the death of over 300 Ukrainians, 100,000 internally displaced, and thousands fleeing according to the U.N. Ukraine has known about three decades of independence from the former Soviet Union, which Russia threatens to bring to an end. Putin defends the war as a means of “demilitarizing” and “denazifying” Ukraine and putting an end to years of genocide within the nation. These claims are not supported by evidence and are mere propaganda. 

One reporter poignantly asked if these proposed sanctions will be as effective as Russian tanks, bombs, and weaponry. President Biden says that we will know the impact of the U.S.’s and the international community’s actions in a month. Time is ticking. 

The Russian-Ukranian War is a developing story.