Biden anuncia sanciones a Rusia y movimientos de tropas en respuesta a la invasión de Ucrania

President Biden on Tuesday announced new sanctions against Russia, calling Kremlin-led activities in recent hours "the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine," and the authorization of additional U.S. forces to the region, but maintained that the United States has "no intention" of fighting Russia.

The president, from the White House on Tuesday, said Russian President Vladimir Putin is "setting up a rationale" to take Ukrainian territory "by force," after authorizing Russian forces to deploy into the country.

"I know he’s setting up a rationale to go much further," Biden said. "This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine." 

BIDEN DICE QUE RUSIA ESTA INICIANDO UNA INVASION, ANUNCIA SANCIONES: ACTUALIZACIONES EN DIRECTO

The president said he will impose further sanctions on Russia, which go "far beyond" the steps taken by the United States and allies and partners in 2014.

"And if Russia goes further with this invasion, we stand prepared to go further as with sanctions," he said.

"Who in the Lord’s name does Putin think gives him the right to declare new so-called countries on territory that belongs to his neighbors?" Biden said. "This is a flagrant violation of international law and demands a firm response from the international community."

Biden maintained that the United States is working with NATO allies and partners to implement sanctions, saying they have been "closely coordinated," and will "continue to escalate" if Russia "escalates."

LA CASA BLANCA DECLARA LA INVASIÓN RUSA EN UCRANIA

Biden said the United States is implementing sanctions that block two large Russian financial institutions – VEB and its  military bank – and implementing comprehensive sanctions on Russian sovereign debt.

"Eso significa que hemos aislado al gobierno de Rusia de la financiación occidental. Ya no puede obtener dinero de Occidente y tampoco puede negociar su nueva deuda en nuestros mercados ni en los mercados europeos", explicó Biden.

The Biden administration is also set to impose sanctions on Russia’s "elites and their family members," which the White House teased earlier this month. Biden said they "share in the corrupt gains of the Kremlin policy and should share the pain as well."

Biden went on to say that the U.S. will work with Germany to "ensure Nord Stream 2 will not, as I promised, will not move forward."

Alemania ha declarado esta noche que está tomando medidas para detener el proceso de certificación del gasoducto Nord Stream 2 procedente de Rusia, debido a las últimas acciones de Moscú en el este de Ucrania.

El gasoducto de 764 millas que transportaría gas natural de Rusia a Alemania no ha comenzado a funcionar. Nord Stream 2 es propiedad y está gestionado por una filial al 100% de la empresa estatal rusa Gazprom.

El Nord Stream 2 se ha desarrollado y desplegado más rápidamente a pesar de las sanciones impuestas por la administración Trump. Una vez eliminadas esas sanciones, Alemania sigue deseando que el gasoducto se active cuanto antes. 

El año pasado, Biden eliminó las sanciones impuestas al gasoducto Nord Stream 2, permitiendo que prosiguiera su construcción y activación.

But Biden said that as Russia "contemplates its next move," the United States has its next move prepared as well, saying that the United States "will continue to provide defensive assistance to Ukraine," and will continue to "reinforce and reassure our NATO allies."

"In response to Russia’s admission that it will not withdraw its forces from Belarus, I have authorized additional movements of U.S. forces and equipment already stationed in Europe to strengthen our Baltic allies Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania," Biden announced.

"Let me be clear: these are totally defensive moves on our part," he continued. "We have no intention of fighting Russia."

Biden said, however, that the U.S. wants to "send an unmistakable message" that the United States and allies "will defend every inch of NATO territory and abide by the commitments we made to NATO."

"We still believe that Russia is poised to go much further in launching a massive military attack against Ukraine—I hope I’m wrong about that. I hope we’re wrong about that," Biden said, noting that there are still well over 150,000 Russian troops surrounding Ukraine.

"Russian forces remain positioned in Belarus to attack Ukraine from the north, including warplanes and offensive missile systems," Biden said, noting that Russia is moving supplies of "blood and medical equipment into position at the border."

"No necesitas sangre a menos que planees empezar una guerra", dijo Biden.

The president said that Russian activities in the last several days mirror what Secretary of State Antony Blinken previewed last week at the United Nations Security Council— detailing false flag events that have been "dramatically" staged.

"President Putin has sought authorization from the Russian parliament to use military force outside of Russian territory, and this set the stage for further pretext of further provocations by Russia to try to justify further military action," Biden said. "None of us, none of us, should be fooled. None of us will be fooled. There is no justification."

He added: "Further Russian assault of Ukraine remains a severe threat in the days ahead."

Biden, shifting to how the situation abroad will affect those in the homeland, said that his administration will use "every tool at our disposal to protect American businesses and consumers from rising prices at the pump."

"Defending freedom will have cost for us as well, and here at home, we need to be honest about that," the president said. "But, as we do this, I’m going to take robust action to make sure the pain of our sanctions is targeted to the Russian economy—not ours." 

Biden said his administration is "closely monitoring" energy supplies to prevent disruption, and is executing a plan and coordination with major oil producing consumers.

"This will blunt gas prices," Biden said. "I want to limit the pain that the American people are feeling at the gas pump—this is critical to me."

Meanwhile, Biden, delivering a direct message to Putin, said the U.S. and allies are "united in our support of Ukraine" and in "our opposition to Russian aggression" and in "resolve to defend our NATO alliance."

"And we’re united in our understanding of the urgency and seriousness of the threat Russia is making to global peace and stability," Biden said, slamming Putin for "directly" attacking "Ukraine’s right to exist."

"He explicitly threatened war unless his extreme demands were met, and there is no question that Russia is the aggressor," Biden said. "So, we’re clear-eyed about the challenges we’re facing."

But Biden said that there is "still time to avert the worst case scenario," and left the door open for diplomacy "if it is serious."

"When all is said and done, we’re going to judge Russia by its actions, not its words," Biden said. "And whatever Russia does next, we're ready to respond with unity, clarity and conviction."

He added: "I’m hoping diplomacy is still available."

The president’s comments came after Putin, on Tuesday during a press conference, called on Ukraine to demilitarize.

Putin’s demands came after Russian troops arrived in eastern Ukraine—just hours after he announced that he would recognize the independence of two separatist regions, officials said.

Las tropas rusas entraron en Donbás, nombre de la zona en la que se encuentran las dos regiones separatistas que luchan desde hace tiempo contra los rebeldes respaldados por Rusia, Donetsk y Luhansk, según dijeron las autoridades, que "consideran Donbás parte de Ucrania."

El Kremlin subió aún más la apuesta el martes, al decir que el reconocimiento se extiende incluso a las partes en poder de las fuerzas ucranianas.

Un funcionario de la Casa Blanca dijo a Fox News que los funcionarios de la administración lo califican de invasión.

RUSIA-UCRANIA: LA CASA BLANCA DECLARA LA "INVASIÓN" RUSA Y ANUNCIA SANCIONES: EN DIRECTO

"La invasión ha comenzado", dijo el funcionario. "Así que nuestra respuesta de sanciones ha comenzado".

The president, on Monday, signed an executive order effectively blocking "all economic activity" in Donetsk and Luhansk.

TROPAS RUSAS PENETRAN EN LAS REGIONES SEPARATISTAS DEL ESTE DE UCRANIA, SEGÚN FUNCIONARIOS EUROPEOS

Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer during an interview on CNN Tuesday, promised "additional sanction steps" that the administration plans to take "that go directly at Russia" in response to the "egregious step that they took yesterday away from diplomacy and down the further path toward war."

Mientras tanto, altos funcionarios de la administración declararon a los periodistas el lunes por la noche que "seguirán persiguiendo la diplomacia hasta que rueden los tanques". 

RUSIA-UCRANIA: ALEMANIA DETIENE LA APROBACIÓN DEL GASODUCTO NORD STREAM 2

"No nos hacemos ilusiones sobre lo que puede venir después", dijo un funcionario. "Y estamos preparados para responder con decisión cuando ocurra".

Fox News' Greg Norman, Mark Meredith, Paul Conner and The Associated Press contributed to this report.