Joe Biden will deploy more US troops to protect Europe from "tyrant" Vladimir Putin as the American President unveiled fresh sanctions on Russia.
Speaking at the White House, the US President said he would send more soldiers to Germany as he slammed Moscow's brutal assault on Ukraine via land, sea and air.
He told reporters: “Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences,
Turning to the fresh deployment of troops to Germany, he said: “Over the past few weeks I ordered thousands of additional forces to Germany and Poland as part of our commitment to Nato.
"On Tuesday, in response to Russia’s aggressive action… I authorised the deployment of ground and air forces already stationed in Europe to NATO’s Eastern flank allies - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania.”
He added: “Now I’m authorising additional US force capabilities to deploy to Germany as part of NATO’s response, including US base forces… put on standby weeks ago.”
But he warned: “Our forces are not, and will not be, engaged in the conflict with Russia in Ukraine.
“Our forces are not going to Europe to fight in Ukraine, but to defend our Nato allies and reassure those allies in the east.”
He also unveiled harsh new sanctions on Russian state-owned banks, which would limit Moscow's ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds and yen.
"Putin's aggression against Ukraine will end up costing Russia dearly," Biden said. "Putin will be a pariah on the international stage."
The US President, who spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy late on Wednesday, also convened his National Security Council on Thursday to discuss the situation.
His announcement represented the second major tranche of sanctions against Russia since Putin earlier this week declared two breakaway regions of Ukraine independent and sent troops there.
The United States had warned it would initiate waves of sanctions against Moscow if it further invaded Ukraine, and Russia's full-on military assault launched on Thursday led to the latest round of Western penalties.
Britain unveiled new measures targeting banks, members of Putin's inner circle and the very wealthy who enjoy high-rolling London lifestyles.
Meanwhile, in the Commons Prime Minister Boris Johnson told parliament that leaders had agreed to work together to "maximise the economic price" Putin will pay.
The PM unveiled the "largest and most severe package" of sanctions "that Russia has ever seen" and called the Russian President a “blood-stained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest” who was “always determined to attack his neighbour, no matter what we did”.
The UK will Immediately freeze assets worth £154bn in VTB - the second largest bank in Russia - while Rostec, Russia's biggest defence company with over two million employees, with exports of over £10bn of arms each year, will also face strict sanctions, as part of measures the PM said were designed to "hobble" Russia's economy.
The five "elite individuals", who have close links to the Kremlin, will see their assets frozen and cannot travel to the UK or interact with British businesses.
