Biden promises ‘severe sanctions’ as world condemns Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine

“The purpose of this operation is to protect people who, for eight years now, have been facing humiliation and genocide perpetrated by the Kyiv regime,” Putin said. “To this end, we will seek to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, as well as bring to trial those who perpetrated numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including against citizens of the Russian Federation.”

Curiously, Putin said that “It is not our plan to occupy the Ukrainian territory. We do not intend to impose anything on anyone by force,” while he urged the Ukrainian military not to resist the Russian invasion force.

“You swore the oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people and not to the junta, the people’s adversary which is plundering Ukraine and humiliating the Ukrainian people,” Putin said. “I urge you to refuse to carry out their criminal orders. I urge you to immediately lay down arms and go home … Military personnel of the Ukrainian Army who do this will be able to freely leave the zone of hostilities and return to their families.”

DAWN OF WAR IN UKRAINE AS RUSSIA INVADES

AND SO IT BEGINS: Within minutes of Putin’s address, explosions could be heard as missiles rained down on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, as well as the cities of Kharkiv in the east, Odessa in the west, and Mariupol in the south, while security cameras captured video of Russian military vehicles crossing into Ukraine from Russian-held Crimea.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky immediately cut diplomatic ties with Moscow and called on all Ukrainians to defend the country, promising that the government would issue weapons to anyone who wants them.

“The Ukrainian military is waging hard battles, repelling attacks in Donbas and other regions in the east, north, and south,” Zelensky said. “The future of the Ukrainian people depends on every Ukrainian.”

An adviser to Ukraine’s president says in the early stages of the assault, about 40 people have been killed.

“Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression,” tweeted Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. “Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.”

“The main street in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv was a mixture of anxiety and normalcy in the wake of Russia’s attack,” tweeted the Associated Press. “Although Ukrainians had been warned for weeks that war was imminent, when the attacks finally came many seemed not to know how to react.”

Thousands of residents of Kyiv are reported to be fleeing the city as Russian forces slowly advance.

TWO FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM NATO ALLIES IN KYIV AS RUSSIA ATTACKS UKRAINE

ABOUT MORE THAN JUST UKRAINE: In his speech, Putin made clear he sees his real enemy as the West, in particular, the United States and NATO, which have rebuffed his demands to limit expansion of the defensive alliance.

“In response to our proposals, we invariably faced either cynical deception and lies or attempts at pressure and blackmail, while the North Atlantic alliance continued to expand despite our protests and concerns. Its military machine is moving and, as I said, is approaching our very border,” Putin said. “The whole so-called Western bloc formed by the United States in its own image and likeness is, in its entirety, [an] ‘empire of lies.’”

“This has to do with the entire system of international relations,” Putin said. “They have deceived us, or, to put it simply, they have played us,” referring to what he said were promises NATO would not expand eastward “even by an inch.”

“This type of con-artist behavior is contrary not only to the principles of international relations but also, and above all, to the generally accepted norms of morality and ethics. Where is justice and truth here? Just lies and hypocrisy all around.”

AT THE UN: The large-scale invasion began as the United Nations Security Council was again meeting in an emergency session late last night, New York time.

As U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield began to speak, word had not yet come of Putin’s speech, but everyone knew what was happening.

“A few moments ago I spoke to President Biden, who asked me to convey in the strongest possible terms his — and our — steadfast support for Ukraine,” Thomas-Greenfield said, as she called out Russia’s repeated false denials that it was planning to invade its neighbor with a force numbering near 200,000 troops.

“Over the past few weeks, Russia has called our predictions ‘hysterical.’ Russia said we were lying. Russia said we were supplying the world with misinformation. Russia’s diplomats even laughed in the face of the human suffering we were sounding the alarm about,” she said. “But what we said would happen has come to pass, for all the world to see.”

EUROPEAN ALLIES DECLARE RUSSIAN ATTACK ON UKRAINE THREAT TO NATO TERRITORY UNDER ARTICLE 4

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HAPPENING TODAY: President Joe Biden is meeting virtually this morning with leaders of the G-7 countries, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom, before addressing the public.

The G-7 meeting is set for 9 a.m., but no time has been announced for Biden’s public remarks. In a statement last night, Biden said he would “speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security.”

In a separate statement, Biden said Volodymyr Zelensky reached out to him and that he briefed the Ukrainian president on the steps the U.S. is taking to rally international condemnation.

“He asked me to call on the leaders of the world to speak out clearly against President Putin’s flagrant aggression and to stand with the people of Ukraine,” Biden said, adding that he assured Zelensky the U.S. would be imposing “severe sanctions on Russia” while continuing to provide “support and assistance” to Ukraine.

‘UNPROVOKED’ AND ‘UNJUSTIFIED’: BIDEN DENOUNCES RUSSIAN ATTACK ON UKRAINE

NATO CALLS EMERGENCY SUMMIT: In Brussels, NATO’s North Atlantic Council has been meeting in an “extraordinary” session, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg briefed reporters afterward. “Russia has attacked Ukraine,” he said. “This is a brutal act of war.”

“Today, we have held consultations under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty. We have decided, in line with our defensive planning to protect all allies, to take additional steps to further strengthen deterrence and defense across the alliance,” NATO said in a statement. “Our measures are and remain preventive, proportionate, and non-escalatory.”

Stoltenberg says NATO leaders would meet in a virtual summit tomorrow to consult about the alliance’s next moves.

CONDEMNATION OF RUSSIA: In his statement last night, Biden said, “The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces.”

“President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable,” Biden said.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s horrifying attack on Ukraine, which is entirely unjustified and unprovoked,” said NATO’s statement. “Our thoughts are with all those killed and injured, and with the people of Ukraine. We also condemn Belarus for enabling this attack.”

“This renewed attack is a grave violation of international law … We call on Russia to immediately cease its military action and withdraw all its forces from in and around Ukraine, to fully respect international humanitarian law, and to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access and assistance to all persons in need.”

ROGERS, McCAUL: ‘BOUT TIME: Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers and Texas Rep. Michael McCaul, the top Republicans on the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees, applauded Biden’s decision to reinstate Trump-era sanctions on the company in charge of building and operating Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

Last May, in a bid to rebuild frayed relations with Germany, Biden waived sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG, its chief executive, Matthias Warnig, and its corporate officers.

“We strongly objected to President Biden’s decision last May to waive congressionally mandated sanctions on the Russian malign influence Nord Stream 2 project,” said Rogers and McCaul in a statement.

“Today’s announcement, while long overdue, reflects years of bipartisan efforts and is a step in the right direction. We simply could not allow Putin to use another energy pipeline as a weapon to coerce Europe and the United States,” the GOP lawmakers said. “The administration must support all options allowing for American production of energy including oil and natural gas — energy independence is economic and national security.”

GOP: DON’T FENCE US IN: While Washington is consumed with the Ukraine crisis, the local D.C. government is worried about an Ottawa-style “Freedom Convoy” that could paralyze the nation’s capital with gridlock.

But a group of 18 Republicans in Congress are accusing the U.S. Capitol Police of overreacting by reinstalling fencing that was erected last year in the wake of the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol.

“We are demanding you either overrule the decision by U.S. Capitol security to place fencing around the Capitol grounds, or you give all members of Congress a full briefing on the supposedly imminent and dire threat the State of the Union faces,” the GOP lawmakers said in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “For nearly two years, you have locked the American people out of the halls of Congress.”

“If you have actual intelligence on a potential threat to the United States Capitol, it is your duty as Speaker of the House of Representatives to give a full briefing to all members of Congress. Making a unilateral decision that denies the American people their right to access public buildings is a disgraceful decision that would only further stain your reputation as a Speaker who has continually denied U.S. citizens their rights.”

FIRST TRUCKER CONVOY TO DC FIZZLES WITH SMALL CREW AND TRAFFIC WOES 

SOMALIA STRIKE: After a monthslong lull, the U.S. has conducted an airstrike targeting al Shabab militants in Somalia.

“In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab terrorists after they attacked partner forces in a remote location near Duduble, Somalia, Feb. 22,” the U.S. Africa Command said in a press release.

“The Federal Government of Somalia and the U.S. remain committed to fighting al-Shabaab to prevent the deaths of innocent civilians. Violent extremist organizations like al-Shabaab present long-term threats to the U.S. and regional interests,” the statement said. “A battle-damage assessment is still pending. The command’s initial assessment is that no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike.”

INDUSTRY WATCH: Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $341 million U.S. Space Force contract for deep-space advanced radar capability.

The ground-based Deep-Space Advanced Radar Capability system is designed to continuously detect, track, and maintain custody of deep space objects.

“The DARC program will field a resilient ground-based radar providing our nation with significantly enhanced space domain awareness for geostationary orbit,” said Pablo Pezzimenti, vice president, integrated national systems, Northrop Grumman. “While current ground-based systems operate at night and can be impacted by weather conditions, DARC will provide an all-weather, 24/7 capability to monitor the highly dynamic and rapidly evolving geosynchronous orbital environment critical to national and global security.”

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The Rundown

Washington Examiner: Putin announces ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine

Washington Examiner: Dawn of war in Ukraine as Russia invades

Washington Examiner: ‘Unprovoked’ and ‘unjustified’: Biden denounces Russian attack on Ukraine

Washington Examiner: European allies declare Russian attack on Ukraine threat to NATO territory under Article 4

Washington Examiner: Two foreign ministers from NATO allies in Kyiv as Russia attacks Ukraine

Washington Examiner: China’s support for Russia turns Ukraine into battleground for new world order

Washington Examiner: Trucker encampments appear in Ottawa outskirts after protest broken up

Washington Examiner: First trucker convoy to DC fizzles with small crew and traffic woes

AP: Ukraine attack leaves Baltics wondering: Are we next?

AP: Ukraine hit by more cyberattacks, destructive malware

Washington Post: What The U.S. Military Is Doing In Response To Russian Actions In Ukraine

Defense One: U.S. Troops In Poland Preparing to Support Americans Leaving Ukraine

Washington Post: China, surprised by sudden Ukraine incursion, denies backing Russian attacks

Bloomberg: China Opposes Russia Sanctions, Calls U.S. Actions ‘Immoral’

Air Force Magazine: Ground-Based Radars, New Cislunar Data Agreement to Further Space Domain Awareness

Air Force Magazine: Air Force Grants More Religious Accommodations to Vaccine; Wright-Patt Officers File Lawsuit

Politico: The Pentagon is working on an algorithm to detect Covid early

AL Monitor: U.S. Navy Turns To Sea Drones In Mideast

Defense Daily: CNO Says Divesting Legacy Systems Is An Imperative

19fortyfive.com: Study: More U.S. Troops in Europe Could Deter – Or Provoke – Russia

19fortyfive.com: Joe Biden Is Sending F-35s and Apache Helicopters to Deter Russia

National Interest: Marines Begin Training With The New Amphibious Combat Vehicle

San Diego Tribune: Top enlisted Marine on West Coast fired

Washington Examiner: Opinion: Ending the China Initiative, the Biden administration sacrifices US security at the woke altar

War on the Rocks: Maintaining Military Medical Readiness Today Saves Lives Tomorrow

Calendar

THURSDAY | FEBRUARY 24

8 a.m. — National Security Space Association Defense and Intelligence Space Conference, with John Paul Parker, intelligence community space executive in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; Air Force Gen. John Raymond, chief of space operations; and Audrey Schaffer, director for space policy at the National Security Council https://www.eventsquid.com/event.cfm?id=14849

9 a.m. — Washington Post Live virtual discussion with Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, on “The Crisis in Ukraine.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live

9 a.m. — German Marshall Fund of the United States virtual discussion: “The Russia-Ukraine Crisis and Turkey’s Balancing Act,” Galip Dalay, fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs; Maryna Vorotnyuk, associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute; Liana Fix, fellow at GMFUS; and Jonathan Katz, director of democracy initiatives at GMFUS https://www.gmfus.org/event/russia-ukraine-crisis-and-turkeys-balancing-act

10 a.m. Orlando, Florida — American Conservative Union Conservative Political Action Conference, with:

• 11:20 a.m.: James O’Keefe, president of Project Veritas, 
• 12:20 p.m.: Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.
• 1:30 p.m.: Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla.
• 2:05 p.m.: Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.
• 2:45 p.m.: Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind.
• 4:30 p.m.: Former Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C.
• 5:05 p.m.: Wayne LaPierre, CEO of the NRA
• 5:20 p.m.: Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas

https://cpac.conservative.org/agenda/

10 a.m. — American Enterprise Institute web event: “Putin vs. the West: The Russia-Ukraine crisis and the future of the post–Cold War order,” with Leon Aron, senior fellow, AEI, and Frederick Kagan, director, Critical Threats Project, AEI https://www.aei.org/events/putin-vs-the-west

11 a.m. — Council on Foreign Relations virtual discussion on “the evolution of American foreign policy and the challenges facing the country today,” with Secretary of State Antony Blinken; and Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, editor at Foreign Affairs https://www.foreignaffairs.com/foreign-affairs-100-years

1 p.m. — National Defense Industrial Association virtual workshop” “Enabling the Joint Warfight: Joint All Domain Command and Control,” with Michael Zatman, principal director for fully networked command, control and communications in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering; retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Richard Stapp, corporate vice president and CTO of Northrop Grumman; and former Deputy Defense Undersecretary for Acquisition and Sustainment Alan Shaffer, visiting fellow at the NDIA Emerging Technologies Institute, participate in a discussion https://www.ndia.org/events

1 p.m. — Adm. Karl Schultz, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard delivers the annual State of the Coast Guard Address https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast

2 p.m. — Atlantic Council virtual discussion: “Global Challenges and the Army’s Role,” with Army Secretary Christine Wormuth https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/global-challenges

2 p.m. — Association of the U.S. Army webinar: “Understanding Russia’s Grand Strategy,” with Andrew Monaghan, director of the Russia Research Network. https://info.ausa.org/e/784783/anding-Russia-s-Grand-Strategy

3 p.m. — Washington Post Live virtual discussion: “World Stage: Crisis in Ukraine” with British Ambassador to the United States Karen Pierce. https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live

3 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “What’s Next for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan?” with former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan James Cunningham; Nilofar Sakhi, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center; and Mark Bowden, associate fellow at the Chatham House International Security Program https://www.csis.org/events/whats-next-un-assistance-mission-afghanistan

FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 25

8:15 a.m. — Government Executive Media Group virtual forum: “Doing Business with the Army,” with Matthew Paul, project manager at the Distributed Common Ground System-Army; Gayna Malcom-Packnett, interim associate director of small business programs at the Army Futures Command; and Wayne Sok, product lead at Army Chess https://events.washingtontechnology.com/army

9 a.m. — Woodrow Wilson Center Middle East Program virtual discussion: “Turkey’s Role in the Russian-Ukrainian Crisis,” with Turkish Ambassador to the United States Murat Mercan https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/conversation

11 a.m. — Nuclear Threat Initiative virtual discussion: “From Cyber Attack to Nuclear War: Avoiding Escalation through Cooperation,” former State Department Coordinator for Cyber Issues Christopher Painter, president of the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise Foundation https://www.nti.org/events/christopher-painter

TUESDAY | MARCH 1

10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee hearing: “Engagement with Allies and Partners,” with testimony from Mara Karlin, assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans, and capabilities; Jessica Lewis, assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings

10 a.m. CLOSED — Senate Foreign Relations Committee CLOSED hearing: “U.S. Hostage Policy,” with testimony from Roger Carstens, special presidential envoy for hostage affairs; and Chris O’Leary, director for hostage recovery fusion cell, Federal Bureau of Investigation https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/us-hostage-policy030122

10 a.m. — National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations online discussion: “An Emerging Axis: Strategic Trends Between Saudi Arabia, Russia, and China, and What it Means for the Middle East,” with David Rundell, former chief of mission at the American Embassy in Saudi Arabia and author of “Vision or Mirage: Saudi Arabia at the Crossroads”; and Michael Gfoeller, retired U.S. foreign service officer with service in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Moscow, Russia https://www.youtube.com/user/NCUSAR

2 p.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces hearing: “Fiscal Year 2023 Strategic Forces Posture Hearing,” with testimony from Sasha Baker, Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy; Adm. Charles Richard, commander, U.S. Strategic Command; Army Gen. James Dickinson, commander, U.S. Space Command; and Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings

WEDNESDAY | MARCH 2

2 p.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel hearing: “Assessing the Effectiveness of Suicide Prevention Programs,” with testimony from Bonnie Carroll, president and founder, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors; Dr. Craig Bryan, director, Suicide Prevention Program, hio State University Wexner Medical Center; Dr. Karen Orvis, director, Defense Suicide Prevention Office; Dr. Richard Mooney, acting deputy assistant secretary of defense, health services policy and oversight https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings

THURSDAY | MARCH 3

10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Subcommittees on Seapower and Projection Forces and Readiness Joint hearing: “State of the Surface Navy,” with testimony from Adm. William Lescher, vice chief of naval operations; and Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener, commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings