拜登总统就俄罗斯向乌克兰发动无端及无理的攻击发表讲话

白宫东厅
东部标准时间下午1:43
总统：抱歉让大家久等了。下午好。俄罗斯军队已开始对乌克兰人民发动凶残的进攻。无缘无故、无正当理由、绝无必要。
这是一次有预谋的攻击。弗拉基米尔·普京几个月来一直在策划这场行动，正如我们始终都在阐明的。他将超过175000人的军队以及军事装备运送到沿乌克兰边境的各处地点。
他将血浆物资运送到位，并建起野战医院。这能向你们充分地说明他一直抱有的企图。
他拒绝了美国以及我们的盟友和伙伴为应对我们共同的安全关切，通过对话避免无端的冲突并防止生灵涂炭而做出的一切善意努力。
几周来——几周来，我们一直在就发生这种情况发出警告。而现在事态正在基本如我们预计的那样发展。
在过去一周，我们看到了在乌克兰东部由俄罗斯支持的分离主义分子控制的顿巴斯地区的炮击增多。
俄罗斯政府针对乌克兰发起了网络攻击。
我们看到在莫斯科上演了一场政治闹剧——荒谬地、毫无根据地声称乌克兰将要——乌克兰将要入侵俄罗斯并对其发动一场战争，声称乌克兰准备使用化学武器，还声称乌克兰犯下了种族灭绝——而毫无任何依据。
我们目睹了对国际法的公然践踏，妄图单方面地在乌克兰的主权领土上制造两个所谓的共和国。
而且就在联合国安理会开会捍卫乌克兰主权以避免发生侵略的时刻，普京宣布发动他的战争。
就在瞬息之间，瞬息之间，乌克兰各地的历史古城遭到了导弹袭击。
接着是空袭。然后是坦克和军队不断涌入。
我们一直以透明的方式告知全世界，我们分享了有关俄罗斯的种种计划、网络攻击和虚假借口的解密证据，以使普京的所作所为无法蛊惑人心、掩人耳目。
普京是侵略者。普京选择了这场战争。现在他和他的国家将承担种种后果。
今天，我授权实施更多的强有力的制裁，以及对于可以向俄罗斯出口的物品的新的限制。
这将给俄罗斯经济施加严重的代价，既是即刻的又是长期的。
我们制定这些制裁的目的就是最大程度地给俄罗斯造成长期影响，并将美国和我们的盟国所受的影响减轻到最小。
而且我要阐明：美国并不是在独自努力。几个月来，我们一直在建立一个由代表全球一半以上的经济体的合作伙伴所组成的同盟。
欧洲联盟的27个成员国，包括法国、德国和意大利，以及英国、加拿大、日本、澳大利亚、新西兰等其他很多国家，共同扩大我们的应对措施的联合影响力。
我今天上午刚刚同七国集团领导人交谈过，而且我们完全地全面保持一致。我们将限制俄罗斯使用美元、欧元、英镑和日元作为全球经济的一部分进行交易的能力。我们将限制他们那样做的能力。我们将阻碍他们资助及发展俄罗斯军队的能力。
我们将实施重大的——我们将削弱他们在21世纪的高科技经济中竞争的能力。
我们已经看到我们的行动对俄罗斯货币卢布所产生的影响，今天早些时候卢布跌至历史上最脆弱的水平。而且俄罗斯股市今天暴跌。俄罗斯政府的借贷利率飙升了15%以上。
在今天的行动中，我们现已制裁了总计持有约1万亿美元资产的俄罗斯银行。
我们切断了俄罗斯最大的银行——它自身持有俄罗斯银行资产的三分之一以上——将其同美国金融系统切断。
而且今天，我们还要封锁另外四家主要银行。这意味着他们在美国持有的每一项资产都将被冻结。其中包括V.T.B.，这家持有2500亿美元资产的俄罗斯第二大银行。
正如我们所承诺的，我们还将增加我们正在制裁的俄罗斯的权势人物以及他们的家庭成员的名单。
我在星期二说过，这些人从克里姆林宫的政策中牟取了个人利益，而他们也应为此承担痛苦。我们将在今后的日子里继续这样紧锣密鼓地将这些腐败的亿万富翁列入名单。
星期二，我们制止了俄罗斯政府向美国或欧洲投资者筹款。
今天，我们将对俄罗斯最大的国有企业施加同样的限制——这些公司的资产超过1.4万亿美元。
随着我们收紧俄罗斯为其经济的战略部门获取融资和技术的渠道，并在今后数年降低其工业产能，我们的行动将造成的一些最有威力的影响会在长期显现。
我们的行动以及盟国和伙伴所采取的行动估计将切断俄罗斯二分之一以上的高端技术进口。
这将对他们军队继续现代化的能力给予沉重打击。这将降低他们的航空航天工业，包括太空项目的能力。这将使他们的造船能力受损，进而使他们的经济竞争力下降。这将是对普京长远战略野心的重大一击。
我们正在准备采取更多行动。除了正在实施的经济惩罚外，我们也在采取步骤，捍卫我们的北约盟国，尤其是在东翼。
明天北约将召开首脑会议——我们将出席——汇集30个盟国和亲密伙伴的领导人，共同表达我们的团结，并就接下来从各方面进一步加强北约联盟的步骤作出规划。
虽然我们仅在今年——在刚过去的一年——就向乌克兰提供了超过6.5亿美元的防御援助，但我要重申，我们的部队没有也将不会在乌克兰同俄罗斯交战。我们的部队前往欧洲不是为了在乌克兰作战，而是为了保卫我们的北约盟国和让东翼盟国放心。
正如我已作出的极明确表示，美国将以美国的最大力量捍卫北约的每一寸土地。好消息是，北约比任何时候都更加团结和更加坚定。
毫无疑问——毫无疑问，美国和每一个北约盟国都将履行我们对第五条款（Article 5）的承诺，即对我们一个国家的攻击就是对我们所有国家的攻击。
在过去几星期，作为我们对北约的承诺，我命令向德国和波兰增派了数千部队。
星期二，针对俄罗斯的侵略行动，包括其在白俄罗斯和黑海一带屯兵，我授权将已驻扎在欧洲的地面和空军部队派往北约东翼国家：爱沙尼亚、拉脱维亚、立陶宛、波兰和罗马尼亚。
我们的盟国也在为集体防御加强力量，增加——其他盟国，北约其他国家——增加了他们自己的部队和力量，以确保我们的集体防御。
今天，就在俄罗斯发动进攻几小时内，北约一起共同授权和启动了——启动反应计划。
这将使北约能够调遣高度战备部队——在需要之时和派往所需要之地，保护在欧洲东界的北约盟国。
现在，作为北约反应的一部分，我授权把更多的美国部队和实力调遣到德国，包括国防部在数周前指示进入待命状态的一些驻扎在美国的部队。
我也与国防部长奥斯汀和参谋长联席会议主席米利将军进行了交谈，讨论了在一旦必要时进行更多调动作好准备，以保护我们的北约盟国和支持世界历史上最伟大的军事联盟——北约。
在我们作出反应的同时，本政府正在采用一些手段——我们能够采用的一切手段，保护美国家庭和商业不受汽油价格上涨的影响。
你们知道，我们正在采取积极步骤，降低代价。美国石油和天然气公司不应该——不应该利用这个时候为增加利润而提高价格。
你们知道，在我们的制裁计划中，我们专门作出设置，让能源付款得以继续。
我们在密切监视对能源供应的任何干扰。为保障全球能源供应的共同利益，我们一直在与主要石油生产和消费国进行协调。
我们在积极与世界各地的国家一道努力，对主要能源消费国集体释放战略石油储备（Strategic Petroleum Reserves）作出提高[评估]。美国将视情况需要增加释放量。
我知道这是困难的，而且美国人民已经在受到影响。我将尽我最大的权力所能，减少美国人民在加油站感到的痛苦。这对我至关主要。
但是，对这种侵略行径不能无动于衷。如果那样的话，给美国带来的后果将要糟糕得多。美国面对恃强凌弱者挺身而出。我们为自由挺身而出。这是我们的本色。
这是我们的基本准则。
我要在此重复一下我上周发出的警告：如果俄罗斯再次对我们的公司、我们的关键基础设施发动网络攻击，我们已经做好了回应的准备。
几个月来，我们一直在与私营部门密切合作，以加强它们的网络防御，并提高我们回应俄罗斯网络攻击的能力。
昨晚我与乌克兰总统泽连斯基通话，我向他保证，美国将与我们的欧洲盟友和伙伴一起支持乌克兰人民保卫自己的国家。我们将提供人道主义救助以减轻他们的灾难。
在这场冲突的初期，俄罗斯的宣传机构将继续试图隐瞒真相，并声称俄罗斯针对其杜撰的威胁所采取的军事行动取得了成功。
但是，历史一次又一次地表明，对他国领土的迅速占领最终将演变为一场持久战，激发大规模的公民抗争，把占领者带入战略上的死胡同。
对乌克兰人民来说，接下来的几周和几个月将是艰难的。普京给他们带来了巨大的苦难。然而，乌克兰人民已经经历了 30 年的独立，他们一再表明不会容忍任何人强迫他们的国家倒退。
此时此刻，整个欧洲和全世界的自由处于一个危险的关头。普京对维护全球和平的原则发动了攻击。
但是，现在全世界都清楚地看到普京和他的克里姆林宫同伙们的真正目的。这次入侵从来与他们真正的安全关切无关。他们真正的企图是赤裸裸的侵略，是普京不择手段建立帝国的欲望。他们通过胁迫和腐败手段欺凌俄罗斯的邻国，通过武力改变国界，最终选择发动一场毫无道理的战争。
普京的行为暴露了他为我们这个世界构想的邪恶愿景，在这个愿景中，一个国家可动用武力攫取自己需要的一切。
但是，美国和热爱自由的国家将动员其强大的力量通过一切可能的方式抵制这种愿景。
当尘埃最终落定，美国以及我们的盟国和伙伴将更强大、更团结、更坚定，我们的目的将更明确。
普京对乌克兰的侵略最终将使俄罗斯在经济和战略上付出沉重的代价，我们一定会让侵略者承担后果。普京将被国际社会抛弃。任何国家，只要容忍俄罗斯对乌克兰的赤裸裸的侵略，都会因纵容侵略者而蒙受耻辱。
当这个时代成为历史时，俄罗斯将由于普京选择对乌克兰发动毫无道理的战争而变得更加虚弱，而其他国家则会更加强大。
自由、民主、人的尊严——这些力量远比恐惧和压迫强大。它们不会被普京这样的暴君及其军队毁灭。任何规模的暴力和恐吓都无法把它们从人们的心中和希望中抹去。它们将永存。
这是一场民主与专制、主权与征服的较量，毫无疑问，自由必胜。
愿上帝保佑自由民主的乌克兰和乌克兰人民，愿上帝护佑我们的军队。 
 
欲查看原稿内容: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/02/24/remarks-by-president-biden-on-russias-unprovoked-and-unjustified-attack-on-ukraine/ 
本译文仅供参考，只有英文原稿才可以被视为权威资料来源。

Remarks by President Biden on Russia’s Unprovoked and Unjustified Attack on Ukraine
FEBRUARY 24, 2022•SPEECHES AND REMARKS
East Room

1:43 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT:  Sorry to keep you waiting.  Good afternoon.  The Russian military has begun a brutal assault on the people of Ukraine without provocation, without justification, without necessity.
This is a premeditated attack.  Vladimir Putin has been planning this for months, as I’ve been — as we’ve been saying all along.  He moved more than 175,000 troops, military equipment into positions along the Ukrainian border.
He moved blood supplies into position and built a field hospital, which tells you all you need to know about his intentions all along.
He rejected every good-faith effort the United States and our Allies and partners made to address our mutual security concerns through dialogue to avoid needless conflict and avert human suffering.
For weeks — for weeks, we have been warning that this would happen.  And now it’s unfolding largely as we predicted.
In the past week, we’ve seen shelling increase in the Donbas, the region in eastern Ukraine controlled by Russian-backed separatists.
Rus- — the Russian government has perpetrated cyberattacks against Ukraine.
We saw a staged political theater in Moscow — outlandish and baseless claims that Ukraine was — Ukraine was about to invade and launch a war against Russia, that Ukraine was prepared to use chemical weapons, that Ukraine committed a genocide — without any evidence.
We saw a flagrant violation of international law in attempting to unilaterally create two new so-called republics on sovereign Ukrainian territory.
And at the very moment that the United Nations Security Council was meeting to stand up for Ukraine’s sovereignty to stave off invasion, Putin declared his war.
Within moments — moments, missile strikes began to fall on historic cities across Ukraine.
Then came in the air raids, followed by tanks and troops rolling in.
We’ve been transparent with the world.  We’ve shared declassified evidence about Russia’s plans and cyberattacks and false pretexts so that there can be no confusion or cover-up about what Putin was doing.
Putin is the aggressor.  Putin chose this war.  And now he and his country will bear the consequences.
Today, I’m authorizing additional strong sanctions and new limitations on what can be exported to Russia.
This is going to impose severe costs on the Russian economy, both immediately and over time.
We have purposefully designed these sanctions to maximize the long-term impact on Russia and to minimize the impact on the United States and our Allies.
And I want to be clear: The United States is not doing this alone.  For months, we’ve been building a coalition of partners representing well more than half of the global economy.
Twenty-seven members of the European Union, including France, Germany, Italy — as well as the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and many others — to amplify the joint impact of our response.
I just spoke with the G7 leaders this morning, and we are in full and total agreement.  We will limit Russia’s ability to do business in Dollars, Euros, Pounds, and Yen to be part of the global economy.  We will limit their ability to do that.  We are going to stunt the ability to finance and grow Rus- — the Russian military.
We’re going to impose major — and we’re going to impair their ability to compete in a high-tech 21st century economy.
We’ve already seen the impact of our actions on Russia’s currency, the Ruble, which early today hit its weakest level ever — ever in history.  And the Russian stock market plunged today.  The Russian government’s borrowing rate spiked by over 15 percent.
In today’s actions, we have now sanctioned Russian banks that together hold around $1 trillion in assets.
We’ve cut off Russia’s largest bank — a bank that holds more than one third of Russia’s banking assets by itself — cut it off from the U.S. financial system.
And today, we’re also blocking four more major banks.  That means every asset they have in America will be frozen.  This includes V.T.B., the second-largest bank in Russia, which has $250 billion in assets.
As promised, we’re also adding names to the list of Russian elites and their family members that are sanctioning — that we’re sanctioning as well.
As I said on Tuesday, these are people who personally gain from the Kremlin’s policies and they should share in the pain.  We will keep up this drumbeat of those designations against corrupt billionaires in the days ahead.
On Tuesday, we stopped the Russian government from raising money from U.S. or European investors.
Now, we’re going to apply the same restrictions to Russia’s largest state-owned enterprises — companies with assets that exceed $1.4 trillion.
Some of the most powerful impacts of our actions will come over time as we squeeze Russia’s access to finance and technology for strategic sectors of its economy and degrade its industrial capacity for years to come.
Between our actions and those of our Allies and partners, we estimate that we’ll cut off more than half of Russia’s high-tech imports.
It will strike a blow to their ability to continue to modernize their military.  It’ll degrade their aerospace industry, including their space program.  It will hurt their ability to build ships, reducing their ability to compete economically.  And it will be a major hit to Putin’s long-term strategic ambitions.
And we’re preparing to do more.  In addition to the economic penalties we’re imposing, we’re also taking steps to defend our NATO Allies, particularly in the east.
Tomorrow, NATO will convene a summit — we’ll be there — to bring together the leaders of 30 Allied nations and close partners to affirm our solidarity and to map out the next steps we will take to further strengthen all aspects of our NATO Alliance.
Although we provided over $650 million in defensive assistance to Ukraine just this year — this last year, let me say it again: Our forces are not and will not be engaged in the conflict with Russia in Ukraine.  Our forces are not going to Europe to fight in Ukraine but to defend our NATO Allies and reassure those Allies in the east.
As I made crystal clear, the United States will defend every inch of NATO territory with the full force of American power.  And the good news is: NATO is more united and more determined than ever.
There is no doubt — no doubt that the United States and every NATO Ally will meet our Article 5 commitments, which says that an attack on one is an attack on all.
Over the past few weeks, I ordered thousands of additional forces to Germany and Poland as part of our commitment to NATO.
On Tuesday, in response to Russia’s aggressive action, including its troop presence in Belarus and the Black Sea, I’ve authorized the deployment of ground and air forces already stationed in Europe to NATO’s eastern flank Allies: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania.
Our Allies have also been stepping up, adding — the other Allies, the rest of NATO — adding their own forces and capabilities to ensure our collective defense.
And today, within hours of Russia’s unleashing its assault, NATO came together and authorized and activated — an activation of response plans.
This will enable NATO’s high-readiness forces to deploy and — when and where they’re needed to protect our NATO Allies on the eastern boundaries of Europe.
And now I’m authorizing additional U.S. forces and capabilities to deploy to Germany as part of NATO’s response, including some of U.S.-based forces that the Department of Defense placed on standby weeks ago.
I’ve also spoken with Defense Secretary Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Milley, about preparations for additional moves should they become necessary to protect our NATO Allies and support the greatest military Alliance in the history of the world — NATO.
As we respond, my administration is using the tools — every tool at our disposal to protect American families and businesses from rising prices at the gas pump.
You know, we’re taking active steps to bring down the costs.  And American oil and gas companies should not — should not exploit this moment to hike their prices to raise profits.
You know, in our sanctions package, we specifically designed to allow energy payments to continue.
We are closely monitoring energy supplies for any disruption.  We have been coordinating with major oil producing and consuming countries toward our common interest to secure global energy supplies.
We are actively working with countries around the world to elevate [evaluate] a collective release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserves of major energy-consuming countries.  And the United States will release additional barrels of oil as conditions warrant.
I know this is hard and that Americans are already hurting.  I will do everything in my power to limit the pain the American people are feeling at the gas pump.  This is critical to me.
But this aggression cannot go unanswered.  If it did, the consequences for America would be much worse.  America stands up to bullies.  We stand up for freedom.  This is who we are.
Let me also repeat the warning I made last week: If Russia pursues cyberattacks against our companies, our critical infrastructure, we are prepared to respond.
For months, we have been working closely with our private — with the private sector to harden their cyber defenses, sharpen our ability to respond to Russian cyberattacks as well.
I spoke late last night to President Zelenskyy of Ukraine and I assured him that the United States, together with our Allies and partners in Europe, will support the Ukrainian people as they defend their country.  We’ll provide humanitarian relief to ease their suffering.
And in the early days of this conflict, Russian propaganda outlets will keep trying to hide the truth and claim success for its military operation against a made-up threat.
But history has shown time and again how swift gains in territory eventually give way to grinding occupations, acts of mass civil — mass civil disobedience, and strategic dead-ends.
The next few weeks and months will be hard on the people of Ukraine.  Putin has unleashed a great pain on them.  But the Ukrainian people have known 30 years of independence, and they have repeatedly shown that they will not tolerate anyone who tries to take their country backwards.
This is a dangerous moment for all of Europe, for the freedom around the world.  Putin has a — has committed an assault on the very principles that uphold global peace.
But now the entire world sees clearly what Putin and his Kremlin — and his Kremlin allies are really all about.  This was never about genuine security concerns on their part.  It was always about naked aggression, about Putin’s desire for empire by any means necessary — by bullying Russia’s neighbors through coercion and corruption, by changing borders by force, and, ultimately, by choosing a war without a cause.
Putin’s actions betray his sinister vision for the future of our world — one where nations take what they want by force.
But it is a vision that the United States and freedom-loving nations everywhere will oppose with every tool of our considerable power.
The United States and our Allies and partners will emerge from this stronger, more united, more determined, and more purposeful.
And Putin’s aggression against Ukraine will end up costing Russia dearly — economically and strategically.  We will make sure of that.  Putin will be a pariah on the international stage.  Any nation that countenances Russia’s naked aggression against Ukraine will be stained by association.
When the history of this era is written, Putin’s choice to make a totally unjustifiable war on Ukraine will have left Russia weaker and the rest of the world stronger.
Liberty, democracy, human dignity — these are the forces far more powerful than fear and oppression.  They cannot be extinguished by tyrants like Putin and his armies.  They cannot be erased by people — from people’s hearts and hopes by any amount of violence and intimidation.  They endure.
And in the contest between democracy and autocracy, between sovereignty and subjugation, make no mistake: Freedom will prevail.
God bless the people of a free and democratic Ukraine.  And may God protect our troops.
Q    President Biden —
THE PRESIDENT:  Associated Press, Zeke.
Q    Chris Megerian.  So, do you have any plans to speak with President Putin at this point?  And what interactions have you had with the Russian government?
THE PRESIDENT:  I heard the first part: Do I have any plans to speak with Putin at this point.  And what?
Q    What communications have you had with the Kremlin as far as military (inaudible) in Ukraine and making sure this does not spiral into a larger conflict?
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, it’s a large conflict already.  The way we’re going to assure it’s not going to spiral to a larger conflict is by providing all the forces needed in the Eastern European nations that are members of NATO.  NATO is more united than it’s ever been.
And I have no plans to talk with Putin.
Wall Street Journal, Tarina [Tarini].
Q    Mr. President, you didn’t mention SWIFT in your sanctions that you announced.  Is there a reason why the U.S. isn’t doing that?  Is there disagreement among Allies regarding SWIFT and whether Russia should be allowed to be a part of it?
THE PRESIDENT:  The sanctions that we have proposed on all their banks is of equal consequence — maybe more consequence than SWIFT — number one.
Number two, it is always an option.  But right now, that’s not the position that the rest of Europe wishes to take.
Cecilia Ve- — Vega, ABC.
Q    Thank you, sir.  Sir, sanctions clearly have not been enough to deter Vladimir Putin to this point.  What is going to stop him?  How and when does this end?  And do you see him trying to go beyond Ukraine?
And a second question I’ll just give to you now: This statement that he gave last night will — that the We- — the threat that he gave — the West “will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history.”  Is he threatening a nuclear strike?
THE PRESIDENT:  I have no idea what he’s threatening.  I know what he has done, number one.
And number two, no one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening.  That has to sh- — this is going to take time.  And we have to show resolve so he knows what’s coming and so the people of Russia know what he’s brought on them.  That’s what this is all about.
This is going to take time.  It’s not going to occur — he’s going to say, “Oh my God, these sanctions are coming.  I’m going to stand down.”
He’s going to test the resolve of the West to see if we stay together.  And we will.  We will and it will impose significant costs on him.
Q    Will he go beyond Ukraine, sir?  Do you see him going beyond Ukraine?
Q    Mr. President — Mr. President —
THE PRESIDENT:  (Points to reporter.)  Yes.
Q    Thank you.  Two topics, just really quick.  First, markets are down and gas prices are up.  I know you always stress the difference between Wall Street and Main Street, but everybody seems to be in for some economic pain.  How economically painful is it going to get for people in this country?
And I do have one more question.
THE PRESIDENT:  First of all, there’s no doubt that when a major nuclear power attacks and invades another country that the world is going to respond and markets are going to respond all over the world.  So, there’s no doubt about that, number one.
Number two, the notion that this is going to last for a long time is highly unlikely, as long as we continue to stay resolved in imposing the sanctions we’re going to impose on Russia, period.
What’s your next question?  I’m sorry.
Q    The next question is: Did you underestimate Putin?  And would you still describe him the way that you did in the summer, as a “worthy adversary”?
THE PRESIDENT:  At the time, he was — I made it clear he was an adversary, and I said he was “worthy.”  I didn’t underestimate him.
And I’ve read most of everything he’s written.  Did you read the — I shouldn’t sa- — I’m not being a wise guy.  The — you heard the speech he made — almost an hour’s worth of speeches — why he was going into Ukraine.
He has much larger ambitions in Ukraine.  He wants to, in fact, reestablish the former Soviet Union.  That’s what this is about.
And I think that his — his ambitions are — are completely contrary to the place where the rest of the world has arrived.
Q    President Biden — President Biden —
Q    And — and with that — with his ambitions, you’re confident that these devastating sanctions are going to be as devastating as Russian missiles and bullets and tanks?
THE PRESIDENT:  Yes.  Russian bullets, missiles, and tanks in Ukraine.  Yes, I am.
Q    Thank you, President Biden.  If sanctions cannot stop President Putin, what penalty can?
THE PRESIDENT:  I didn’t say sanctions couldn’t stop him.
Q    But you’ve been talking about the threat of these sanctions for several weeks now —
THE PRESIDENT:  Yes, but the threat of the sanctions and imposing the sanctions and seeing the effect of the sanctions are two different things.
Q    Okay, but —
THE PRESIDENT:  They’re two different things.  And we’re now going to — he’s going to begin to see the effect of the sanctions.
Q    And what will that do — how will that change his mindset here, given he’s attacking Ukraine as we speak?
THE PRESIDENT:  Because it will so weaken his country that he’ll have to make a very, very difficult choices of whether to continue to move toward being a second-rate power or, in fact, respond.
Q    You said, in recent weeks, that big nations cannot bluff when it comes to something like this.  You recently said that the idea of personally sanctioning President Putin was on the table.  Is that a step that you’re prepared to take?  And if not —
THE PRESIDENT:  It’s not a bluff; it’s on the table.
Q    Sanctioning President Putin?
THE PRESIDENT:  Yes.
Q    Why not sanction him today, sir?  Why not sanction him today, sir?
Q    Mr. President —
Q    Mr. President, if I can, you detailed some severe and swift new sanctions today and said the impact it will have over time, but given the full-scale invasion, given that you’re not pursuing disconnecting Russia from what’s called “SWIFT” — the international banking system — or other sanctions at your disposal, respectfully, sir, what more are you waiting for?
THE PRESIDENT:  Specifically, the sanctions we’ve imposed exceed SWIFT.  The sanctions we imposed exceed anything that’s ever been done.  The sanctions we imposed have generated two thirds of the world joining us.  They are profound sanctions.  Let’s have a conversation in another month or so to see if they’re working.
Yes.
Q    Let me ask you about — can I ask you about Zelenskyy?  Sir, you spoke to Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday, sir, if I could follow up —
Q    What’s the risk that we are watching the beginning of another Cold War?  And is there now a complete rupture in U.S. and Russian relations?
THE PRESIDENT:  There is a complete rupture right now in U.S.-Russian relations if they continue on this path that they’re on.
And in terms of a Cold War, that depends.  You have the vast majority of the rest of the world in total opposition to what he’s doing — from Asia to South America to Europe to acr- — around the world.
And so, it’s going to be a cold day for Russia.  The idea — you don’t see a whole lot of people coming to his defense.
Q    And are you — are you — if I could follow-up, sir. Are you urging China to help isolate Russia?  Are you urging China to help isolate Russia?
THE PRESIDENT:  I’m not prepared to comment on that at the moment.
(Cross-talk by reporters.)
Q    Mr. President —
THE PRESIDENT:  Wait.  No, no.  (Points to reporter.)  Yeah.
No, no, no.  He’s had his hand up a long time.
Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  How concerned are you that Putin wants to go beyond Ukraine into other countries and the U.S. will have to get involved if he moves into NATO countries?
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, if he did move into NATO countries, he will be involved — we will be involved.  The only thing that I’m convinced of is: If we don’t stop now, he’ll be emboldened.  If we don’t move against him now with these significant sanctions, he will be emboldened.
Look, you know, every — well, anyway.
Q    And can you talk anything more about your conversation —
(Cross-talk by reporters.)
THE PRESIDENT:  I’m sorry, I can’t hear you.
Q    Sir, India, which is a major defense partner of the United States — is India with — fully with you on the issue of Ukraine and Russia?
THE PRESIDENT:  Does the Defense Department of the United States —
Q    Sir, India is one of your major defense partners.  Is India fully in sync with United States on Russia?
THE PRESIDENT:  We’re going to be — we’re in consultation with — with India today.  We haven’t resolved that completely.
Q    One more question —
(Cross-talk by reporters.)
THE PRESIDENT:  Okay, thank you all very much.  Thank you.
2:05 P.M. EST