As Russia’s invasion continues, Russian forces push their advance on Ukrainian cities despite significant resistance from the people of Ukraine.
President Joe Biden, in coordination with a number of NATO nations and other allies, have implemented a comprehensive package of devastating sanctions on Russia for its invasion, which sent Russian currency plummeting and isolated the Kremlin from the rest of the world’s economy. The president is also banned U.S. imports of Russian oil on Tuesday.
“We’re banning all imports of Russian oil and gas and energy,” President Biden said, adding: “We will not be part of subsidizing Putin’s war.”
Overall death tolls in the conflict are unclear, with both Russia and Ukraine claiming different figures that cannot be independently verified. The United Nations human rights office said Wednesday that 516 civilians in Ukraine have been killed since Russia’s invasion began, including 37 children. The actual death toll is believed to be much higher.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, citing attacks on civilians, has blasted Moscow’s actions as “frank, undisguised terror” and accused Russia of committing war crimes. Zelenskyy has also ramped up calls for the U.S. and NATO to set up a no-fly zone over Ukraine, which many fear would escalate the confict with Russia.
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