President Biden and NATO allies met in Brussels today to reaffirm
the alliance's solidarity in the face of the ongoing and brutal Russian
invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Biden said the United States and NATO would respond if Russia
uses weapons of mass destruction, a new and sobering warning of what
is at stake as war engulfed Europe's largest nation.
Meantime, Ukrainian forces push back against Russian forces throughout
the country. Today, Jane Ferguson begins our reporting from the capital
Kiev.
The Ukrainian military says the burning vessel in this video is a
Russian ship struck by Ukrainian forces. It was docked in beardy
ants
can carry dozens of tanks, armored vehicles and hundreds of troops
another major loss, adding to Russia's already steep logistical challenges.
But last night, Moscow stepped up its assault further north on the
suburbs of Kiev. What looks like a shimmering firework in the night
sky, actually, the brutal incendiary weapon white phosphorus.
It's typically used as a smokescreen but can burn hot enough to melt
the flesh.
In the South. Ukraine is trying to retake the city of Kherson and
pushing Russia away from Nikolayev in the north. Ukrainian counter
offensives forestall an assault on the capital.
A city many military analysts expected to fall within days of Russia's
invasion. Now, one month into the conflict, the Ukrainian flag still
flies in Kiev and her residents are adapting to wartime life.
Some, like Andre Pine for the past. I feel hopelessness. One doesn't
know what to do next. How to behave. I try to keep calm and only
hope that everything will be over and I'll be fine as it was before.
But Cafe owner of any decided to not wait any longer to open his
shop.
Process. It was last Thursday or Friday that I understood that it's
not a matter of one week or two weeks, perhaps not even a month.
Relatives family, the military needs this support.
More support is also needed. On the humanitarian front. The United
Nations says more than half of all Ukrainian Children, some 4.3 million
have been displaced by the month long war.
To showcase unity against Russia today in Brussels, a flurry of diplomacy
As President Biden and Western leaders attended a trio of emergency
summits, including a meeting of NATO's North Atlantic Council. We
are determined to continue to impose costs on Russia to bring about
the end of this brutal war.
NATO agreed to strengthen its eastern European defenses.
Four new battle groups will go to Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and
Slovakia, doubling NATO's presence. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg,
whose term was extended today into late next year, also promised
to help Ukraine prepare against potential attacks with weapons of
mass destruction. We see that
Russia is trying to create some kind of pretext, accusing Ukraine
United States NATO allies for preparing to use chemical and biological
weapons but citing a long list of weapons he says are vital for his
country, including tanks and planes.
President Vladimir Zelensky called on allies to do more. The register
for any bombing this morning. Phosphorous bombs were used. Adults
were killed again, and Children were killed again.
The alliance can still prevent the deaths of Ukrainians from Russian
occupation by providing us with all the weapons we need. Members
of the G seven, A group of the world's richest democratic nations,
also met separately today.
To discuss sanctions of Asian and how to further impair the Russian
central bank. But at a meeting of European leaders, divisions remained
over imposing an embargo on Russian gas and oil imports.
Myself back to devastate, it would have a devastating impact on the
European economy. I think this is not necessary. Meanwhile, the US
imposed new sanctions on Russian elites including 40 defense companies
and half of Russia's legislature.
President. Biden also announced plans to accept 100,000 refugees
and additional funding to help other countries with their migrant
surges.
This is an international responsibility. The United States is the
leader of one of the leaders and the international community has
an obligation to be engaged to be engaged and do all we can to ease
the suffering and pain of innocent women and Children and men for
that matter throughout the throughout Ukraine.
And those who have made it across the border. He also pledged to
respond. If Putin attacked with chemical weapons. We would respond.
We will respond if he uses it nature of the response to depend on
the nature of the use, and Biden defended sanctions against charges
that they're insufficient sanctions never deter.
The maintenance of sanctions, the maintenance of sanctions, the increasing
the pain. We will sustain what we're doing not just next month the
following month, but further remainder this entire year. That's what
we'll stop.
As world leaders meet to discuss how to further punish Russia for
its invasion of Ukraine. The war here enters its second month.
Ukrainian forces continue to hold out in the face of overwhelming
firepower from the Russian army, and in some places advance against
it.
But there is still a sense on the ground here that no matter how
successful their defenses, this war will only really end when Putin
decides Judy
Thank you, Jane. For your important reporting, Jane's reporting and
our ongoing coverage of the war in Ukraine is supported by the Pulitzer