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President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that the United States would ban Russian oil imports, likely raising energy prices, in an effort to escalate sanctions on Russia — a move that the United Kingdom and other allies joined with their own efforts to target Russian petroleum.
The move was welcomed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian leader appeared via video before the British Parliament and invoked Winston Churchill's famous 1940 rallying cry against the Nazis in a defiant speech.
“We will not surrender," he said in Ukrainian to thunderous applause. "We will not fail. We will fight till the end. We will fight on the seas, in the air and defend our land at any cost. We will fight in the forests, fields, beaches, cities, villages, on the streets, we will fight in the hills."
Since Russian forces attacked and invaded Ukraine, more than 2 million refugees have fled, the United Nations' refugee agency said.
In Washington, Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency told lawmakers that 2,000 to 4,000 Russian soldiers had been killed thus far.
Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska shares frustrations, heartache
First lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska is expressing her full sentiments regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy penned an open letter to the global media on Tuesday, explaining that the lengthy and passionate message serves as her "testimony."
"What happened just over a week ago was impossible to believe. Our country was peaceful; our cities, towns, and villages were full of life," she wrote. "On February 24th, we all woke up to the announcement of a Russian invasion. Tanks crossed the Ukrainian border, planes entered our airspace, missile launchers surrounded our cities."
Read the full story here.
Patriot missile defense batteries being sent to Poland
Two Patriot missile defense batteries are being sent to Poland in support of NATO, a U.S. military official said Tuesday.
The movement of the batteries, which shoot down missiles, comes as tensions with Russia rise over its attack and invasion of Ukraine, but the U.S. military said the batteries are defensive to protect NATO members.
"This defensive deployment is being conducted proactively to counter any potential threat to U.S. and Allied forces and NATO territory," Capt. Adam Miller with U.S. European Command said in a statement.
"This is a prudent force protection measure that underpins our commitment to Article Five and will in no way support any offensive operation," the statement said.
Poland is a member of NATO and Ukraine is not. Article 5 is the NATO principle that an attack on a member would be considered an attack on all.
A look at the companies that have stopped doing business with Russia
Since Russia went to war with Ukraine nearly two weeks ago, more than 70 companies across nearly every industry have severed their business relationships with the country or scaled them back in significant ways.
Whether required by sanctions or simply as a matter of choice, their actions include suspending operations in Russia, cutting ties with Russian clients, shutting down online and in-person sales to Russian consumers and freezing financial transactions.
This list, organized by industry, is not intended to be comprehensive, as new companies are joining by the hour. It will be updated frequently.
See the list here.
Around 5,000 evacuated from Sumy, Ukrainian official says
About 5,000 people have been evacuated from the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy after a humanitarian corridor was opened amid the Russian invasion, a Ukrainian official said Wednesday.
Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, said the number included 1,100 foreign students who would be evacuated to the city of Lviv to the west.
More than 2 million refugees have fled Ukraine after Russia attacked the country on Feb. 24, according to the United Nations' refugee agency.
Ukraine defense attache: Additional air defense is top priority
WASHINGTON — Additional air defense capabilities are the number one priority for Ukraine’s military right now, the country’s U.S. defense attache, Maj. Gen. Borys Kremenetskyi, said Tuesday after returning from a meeting at the Pentagon.
“It can be ground based air defense systems. It can be fighter jets, whatever possible,” he said in an interview with The Associated Press.
He said there are countries around the world that have Soviet-produced air defense systems that the Ukrainians already know how to operate. “The U.S. government can also motivate those countries to provide us this equipment,” he said.
They also need additional anti-tank, anti-armor weapons and coastal defense capabilities to defend against Russian ships at the south.
He said Ukraine is grateful for the support it has gotten from the U.S. and its allies, which has allowed Ukraine to slow the Russian advance. “As combat is ongoing, we need more right now,” Kremenetskyi said. “So we try to work with our partners to have it as soon as possible.”
U.S. lawmakers eye $13.6 billion in aid for Ukraine
A government funding bill includes about $13.6 billion in aid for Ukraine, three senior aides said.
Aides in both parties say they are working out technical issues and hope to release the entire omnibus spending bill later Tuesday night.
The Biden administration last week asked for $6.4 billion in aid to Ukraine, which was Russia attacked and invaded on Feb. 24.
More details about a breakdown of defense, humanitarian and other aid were not immediately available.
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said earlier Tuesday that lawmakers were "very close" to finalizing an agreement on government spending.
Americans who travel to Ukraine should draft will, leave DNA samples, State Department says
U.S. citizens who flout federal guidance to avoid traveling to Ukraine should draft wills, leave DNA samples and designate power of attorney, the State Department said Tuesday.
The State Department, which suspended operations at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv on Feb. 28, also urged Americans who travel to the country to establish personal security and communication plans and share important documents and login information with loved ones.
The State Department released the guidance amid reports that Americans are traveling to Ukraine to help fend off the Russian invasion.
Citing a Ukrainian official, the Military Times reported last week that the country had received 3,000 applications from U.S. citizens after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the formation of “the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine.”
NBC News has not confirmed the reports.
The State Department first issued its level 4 travel advisory on Feb. 28, warning American who remained in the country to "exercise increased caution due to the potential for active combat, crime, and civil unrest."