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Biden underscored the United States' commitment to NATO's Article 5. Here's what it means.
From CNN's Ivana KottasováandBryony Jones
In White House remarks today on the Ukraine-Russia crisis, President Biden reiterated the United States' commitment to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
"The United States will defendevery inch of NATO territorywith the full force of Americanpower.An attack against one NATOcountry is an attack against allof us.The United States commitment toArticle5 is sacrosanct," Biden said.
Article 5 has been a key point of discussion among world leaders amid tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
Article 5 of the treaty is the principle of collective defense. It guarantees that the resources of the whole alliance can be used to protect any single member nation. This is crucial for many of the smaller countries who would be defenseless without its allies. Iceland, for example, has no standing army.
Since the US is the largest and most powerful North Atlantic Treaty Organization member, any state in the alliance is effectively under US protection.
According to the NATO website, this is what Article 5 lays out:
"The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defense recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.
Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security.”
In reality, the first and only time Article 5 has been invoked was in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US; as a result, NATO allies joined the invasion of Afghanistan.
However, NATO has taken action on other occasions too.
It put collective defense measures in place in 1991 when it deployed Patriot missiles during the Gulf War, in 2003 during the crisis in Iraq, and in 2012 in response to the situation in Syria, also with Patriot missiles.
All three were based on requests from Turkey.
Read more about NATO and Article 5 here.
Dow jumps more than 400 points after Russia says it's withdrawing some troops
From CNN's Matt Egan
Wall Street's Russia-Ukraine fears easedthis morningafter Russia announced it is withdrawing some troops following the completion of recent drills near Ukraine.
The Dow jumped 422 points, or 1.2%. The S&P 500 surged 1.5% and the Nasdaq was 2.5% higher.
Investors have been concerned that an armed Russian conflict with Ukraine could badly damage the global economy. A war could send prices surging in regions that have already been struggling with rapidly rising inflation, especially as energy supplies could be disrupted in the middle of a conflict. Russia is a majorexporter of oil and particularly natural gas.
US oil futures tumbled 3.7% to just under $92 a barrel. That's despite the fact that Russia stressed today that major military exercises would continue.
Ukrainian president will travel to the city of Mariupol tomorrow
From CNN's From Olga Pavlova
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to the city of Mariupol on Wednesday, his office tells CNN.
Mariupol is located in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Zelensky is expected to be there late in the afternoon.
Biden warns of potential US effects should Russia invade Ukraine
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
President Biden warned a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine would have ramifications inside the United States.
"If Russia decides to invade that will also have consequences here at home, Biden said in remarks at the White House. "The American people understand that defending democracy and liberty is never without cost."
He said Republicans and Democrats were united in their desire to defend "our most basic, most bipartisan, most American principles."
But he added that it could lead to higher energy prices.
"I will not pretend this will be painless," he said, noting the US was coordinating with energy producers "to provide relief at the gas pump."
He said the US was prepared to respond to other attempts at inflicting pain on Americans, including in cyberspace.
"We're not seeking direct confrontation with Russia, though I've been clear that if Russia targets Americans in Ukraine, we will respond forcefully. If Russia attacks the United States or allies through asymmetric means, like disruptive cyberattacks against our companies or critical infrastructure, we're prepared to respond," Biden said.
Biden to Russian citizens: "Youare not our enemy"
From CNN's Jason Kurtz
Amid the ongoing tensions at the Ukraine-Russia border, President Biden made it clear that the United States is not seeking to add to the volatility.
"Let me be equally clear aboutwhat we are not doing:The United States and NATO arenot a threat to Russia," said Biden, speaking from the White House.
"Ukraine is not threateningRussia.Neither the US nor NATO havemissiles in Ukraine.We do not, do not have plans to put themthere as well.We're not targeting the people ofRussia.We do not seek to destabilizeRussia.To the citizens of Russia: youare not our enemy.I do not believe you want abloody, destructive war againstUkraine," he said.
Noting that Russia and the United States teamed up in World War II — which he called "a war of necessity" — Biden drew a distinction between the current state of affairs.
"If Russia attacksUkraine, it will be a war ofchoice, or a war without cause orreason.I say these things not toprovoke, but to speak the truth,because the truth matters.Accountability matters," Biden said.
"If Russia does invade in thedays and weeks ahead, the humancost for Ukraine will beimmense," he added.
Biden: If Russia invades Ukraine it will be met with "overwhelming international condemnation"
From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury
President Biden warned that if Russia invades Ukraine in the coming days or weeks "it will be met with overwhelming international condemnation."
"Accountability matters.If Russia does invade in thedays and weeks ahead, the humancost for Ukraine will beimmense.And the strategic cost for Russiawill also be immense.If Russia attacks Ukraine, itwill be met with overwhelminginternational condemnation.The world will not forget thatRussia chose needless death anddestruction," the US President said in White House remarks.
"Invading Ukraine will prove tobe a self-inflicted wound.The United States and our alliesand partners will responddecisively.The West is united andgalvanized.Today, our NATO allies and thealliances unified and determinedas it's ever been," Biden continued.
Biden says US has "not verified" reports Russia has withdrawn troops from near Ukraine
From CNN's DJ Judd
President Biden told reporters at the White House Tuesday that the United States has "not yet verified” that Russia has begun the withdrawal some troops following the completion of recent drills near Ukraine, warning “invasion remains distinctly possible.”
“The Russian Defense Minister reported today that some military units are leaving their positions near Ukraine. That would be good, but we have not yet verified that,” Biden said. “We have not yet verified the Russian military units are returning to their home bases — indeed, our analysts indicate that they remain very much in a threatening position, and the fact remains right now Russia has more than 150,000 troops circling Ukraine and Belarus, and along Ukraine's border and invasion remains distinctly possible.”
The Russian defense ministry said troops from its Southern and Western military districts — parts of which are next door to Ukraine — had begun to return to their home stations, though the announcement did not say precisely where those troops were permanently based, where they had been exercising, or how many of them were withdrawing.
In his remarks Tuesday, the President reiterated that Americans in the region should leave “before it’s too late to leave safely,” pointing to the decision to relocate the US Embassy in Kyiv to the western city of Lviv.
Biden told Putin US is willing to pursue diplomacy to negotiate "written understandings" with Russia
From CNN's Mike Hayes and Kevin Liptak
President Biden said there is "plenty of room for diplomacy" with Russia that could avoid a conflict in Europe.
Speaking from the White House, Biden laid out areas where Washington and Moscow can continue talking as Russia continues to mass troops along their border with Ukraine.
"That's the best way forward forall parties,inour view. We'll continue our diplomatic effortsinclose consultationwithouralliesand our partners,"Bidensaidinthe East Room.
"As longasthereishope of diplomatic resolutionthatprevents the use of forceandavoidsincredible human sufferingthatwould follow, we will pursue it,"Bidensaid.
Biden's remarks comeamid mixed signals fromRussia. While its leaders havesaiddiplomacyisstill possible, troops continue to buildaround three sides of Ukraine.
The President said that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin this weekend and made it clear that the US is willing to "keep pursuing high-leveldiplomacy" to negotiate "written understandings" with Russia.
"Yesterday, the Russiangovernment publicly proposed tocontinue the diplomacy.I agree," Bidensaidinthe East Room.
He added, "We should give the diplomacyevery chance to succeed."
Biden said that he believes that there are ways "toaddress our respective securityconcerns."
"The United States has put on thetable concrete ideas toestablish security environmentin Europe.We're proposing new arms controlmeasures, new transparencymeasures, new strategic stabilitymeasures," Biden said.
The President noted that the US "will not sacrifice basicprinciples, though."
"We're willing to make practical, result-oriented steps that can advance our common security," he said. "We will not sacrifice basic principles, though. Nations have a right to sovereignty and territorial integrity. They have the freedom to set their own course and choose with whom they will associate. But that still leaves plenty of room for diplomacy and for de-escalation."
Biden: We are "prepared no matter what happens" in Ukraine
From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury
President Biden said that the US is "prepared no matter what happens," during his remarks from the White House on the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
"The United States is prepared,no matter what happens.We are ready with diplomacy, to engage in diplomacy with Russia and our allies and partners to improve stability and security in Europe as a whole. And we are ready to responddecisively to Russian attack onUkraine, which is still very much a possibility.All the events of the last fewweeks and months, this has beenour approach and remains ourapproach now," the President said.
