Biden says ‘this is the beginning of a Russian invasion’ as he announces sanctions – as it happened

That’s it from me today, after an eventful day in Washington. Here’s how the day unfolded:

• Joe Biden said the world is witnessing “the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine”, as Vladimir Putin ordered troops into east Ukraine. In his speech this afternoon, Biden argued that Putin’s recognition of the two self-proclaimed territories in Luhansk and Donetsk represented “a flagrant violation of international law”.
  
• Biden announced the first round of US sanctions against Russia in response to Putin’s military actions in Ukraine. The sanctions will target Russia’s financial institutions, sovereign debt and elite families. “And if Russia goes further with this invasion, we stand prepared to go further as with sanctions,” Biden said.
• Biden is also deploying US forces and equipment to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to help fortify those countries’ defenses. “Let me be clear, these are totally defensive moves on our part. We have no intention of fighting Russia,” Biden said. “We want to send an unmistakable message though, that the United States – together with our allies – will defend every inch of Nato territory and abide by the commitments we made to Nato.”
• Some Republicans criticized Biden’s sanctions as an insufficient response to Russian aggression in Ukraine. “The sanctions outlined are woefully inadequate to deter Putin’s efforts to redraw the European map and dismember a neighboring democracy,” said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. “I will continue to try to work with the Biden administration and Senate Democrats to create crippling sanctions for Putin’s invasion.”
• Meanwhile, Russian lawmakers granted Putin permission to use force outside the country, which could clear the way for a broader attack on Ukraine. “Whatever Russia does next, we’re ready to respond with unity, clarity and conviction,” Biden said this afternoon. “I’m hoping diplomacy is still available.”

The US politics blog will return tomorrow with more updates from Washington. Until then, make sure to follow the Guardian’s live blog on the Ukraine crisis:

National security council officials are expected to soon brief congressional leaders and committee staff on the first round of US sanctions against Russia, according to NBC News.

In his remarks this afternoon, Joe Biden said the first round of sanctions in response to Vladimir Putin’s military actions in east Ukraine would target Russian financial institutions, sovereign debt and elite families.

Joe Biden held a virtual event this afternoon to discuss strengthening America’s supply chains and bolstering clean-energy manufacturing in the US.

The president made a brief mention of the Ukraine crisis before moving on to the topic at hand. While greeting the president, California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was “impressed” Biden was still holding the meeting, given everything else happening today.

“We don’t have much going on -- you know, other than Russia and Ukraine,” Biden joked.

As they were escorted out of the meeting, several reporters tried to ask Biden questions about his administration’s response to Russian aggression in Ukraine, but the president again declined to answer.

Some Republican lawmakers are criticizing Joe Biden’s response to Vladimir Putin’s military actions in Ukraine, arguing that the administration’s newly announced sanctions are “woefully inadequate”.

“This is a critical moment in history…..and President Biden is NOT seizing the moment,” said Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator and an ally of Donald Trump.

“The sanctions outlined are woefully inadequate to deter Putin’s efforts to redraw the European map and dismember a neighboring democracy.”

Graham promised that he would continue to work with his Senate colleagues and the White House to “create crippling sanctions for Putin’s invasion”.

Speaking to reporters in his home state of South Carolina earlier today, Graham similarly warned that Biden’s handling of the Ukraine crisis so far would only encourage Putin to invade further.

“Right now, Mr President, you’re playing footsie with Putin and you’re losing,” Graham said. “He’s walking all over you and our allies.

The White House has also shared a photo of Joe Biden’s meeting today with Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, on the need to protect Ukrainian sovereignty.

The photo shows the two men shaking hands in the Oval Office:

According to the White House readout of the meeting, Biden used the meeting with Kuleba to “reaffirm the United States’ commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

“President Biden reiterated the readiness of the United States, in close cooperation with our allies and partners, to respond swiftly and decisively to any further Russian aggression against Ukraine,” the White House said.

Joe Biden has attracted some support from his Democratic allies in Congress after announcing the first round of US sanctions on Russia in response to Vladimir Putin’s military maneuvers in Ukraine.

“I support @POTUS imposing sanctions for Putin’s invasion of Ukraine,” progressive Senator Elizabeth Warren said on Twitter.

“Together with our NATO allies and international partners, the United States should continue using all diplomatic, political, and economic tools to stop further Russian aggression against the Ukrainian people.”

Joe Biden met today with Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, as Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops into east Ukraine after two independent republics were proclaimed there.

“President Biden updated Foreign Minister Kuleba on the United States’ response to Russia’s decision to recognize the purported ‘independence’ of the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine, including the Executive Order issued last night and new sanctions announced today,” the White House said in its readout of the meeting.

Biden signed an executive order yesterday barring any investment or financing by Americans in the two east Ukraine regions, and he has since announced the first round of US sanctions on Russia in response to Putin’s military maneuvers.

“He also affirmed that the United States would continue providing security assistance and macroeconomic support to Ukraine,” the White House said of Biden’s meeting with Kuleba.

“President Biden reiterated the readiness of the United States, in close cooperation with our allies and partners, to respond swiftly and decisively to any further Russian aggression against Ukraine.”

Despite Joe Biden’s assessment that Russia has started its invasion of Ukraine, the president said there is “still time to avert the worst-case scenario”.

The US and its allies remain open to a diplomatic solution even as the White House announces its first round of sanctions on Russia, Biden said.

“When all is said and done, we’re going to judge Russia by its actions, not its words. And whatever Russia does next, we’re ready to respond with unity, clarity and conviction,” Biden said. “I’m hoping diplomacy is still available.”

With that, Biden concluded his prepared remarks and walked away from the podium without taking any of reporters’ shouted questions.

Joe Biden said the US would continue to provide defensive assistance to Ukraine, as Russia moves troops into the country’s eastern region, where two independent republics have been proclaimed.

Biden also announced that US forces and equipment currently stationed in Europe would be deployed to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to help fortify those country’s defenses.

“Let me be clear, these are totally defensive moves on our part. We have no intention of fighting Russia,” Biden said.

“We want to send an unmistakable message though, that the United States -- together with our allies -- will defend every inch of Nato territory and abide by the commitments we made to Nato.”

Joe Biden acknowledged that the newly announced sanctions on Russia may result in higher gas prices for Americans, and he pledged to work to limit the financial impact on average families.

“Defending freedom will have costs for us as well and here at home. We need to be honest about that,” Biden said.

He added, “But as we do this, I’m going to take robust action to make sure the pain of our sanctions is targeted at the Russian economy, not ours.”

Biden said his administration was closely monitoring energy supplies to prepare for any potential disruption and coordinating with oil producers to help mitigate price hikes.

“I want to limit the pain the American people are feeling at the gas pump,” Biden said. “This is critical to me.”