Today, Sunday, US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed the need to hold Russia accountable after its annexation of Ukrainian territory.
The two leaders also agreed to continue providing Ukraine with weapons, and to stress the importance of securing sustainable energy to solve the global crisis.
“Russian fraud”
The US President had condemned Russia’s “fraud” declaration of annexing four Ukrainian regions, pointing out that Moscow violates international law.
In a statement following the annexation announcement, he said, “The United States condemns Russia’s fraudulent attempt to annex sovereign Ukrainian territory. Russia is violating international law, tampering with the Charter of the United Nations, and showing its contempt for peaceful countries wherever they are.”
“The United States will always respect Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders. We will continue to support Ukraine’s efforts to regain its territory by strengthening its military and diplomatic strength, including through the additional $1.1 billion in security assistance that the United States announced this week,” he added.
‘Severe penalties’
The United States also announced “severe” sanctions against Russian officials and the country’s defense sector in response to the Kremlin’s announcement of the annexation of the four regions.
“The United States will bear a lightning and harsh price for Russia,” the White House said in a statement. He also announced that the allies within the Group of Seven support that any country that supports Russia’s annexation of the Ukrainian regions should bear the “price”.