Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Overview of U.S. and Allied Responses

"Russia launched a full-scale air, land, and sea attack on the independent and democratic state of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The United States and its allies around the world have condemned Russia’s “unprecedented military aggression” as “unprovoked and unjustified.” On February 24, President Biden said,

"Now the entire world sees clearly what [Vladimir] Putin and his Kremlin allies are really all about. This was never about genuine security concerns.... It was always about naked aggression, about Putin’s desire for empire by any means necessary—by bullying Russia’s neighbors through coercion and corruption, by changing borders by force, and, ultimately, by choosing a war without a cause. Putin’s actions betray his sinister vision for the future of our world—one where nations take what they want by force."

Moscow’s objectives appear to include a broad seizure of territory across Ukraine and replacement of Ukraine’s democratically elected government with a nondemocratic satellite regime. Russia also may be seeking to annex a greater part of eastern and southern Ukraine, leaving a rump Ukraine to serve as a puppet state. Reports show many incidents of Ukrainian armed forces’ resistance to the Russian invasion. Many civilians have fled their homes, and Ukraine’s government has ordered a general military mobilization. Russian troops reportedly entered Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, on February 25, 2022.

Since December 2021, the United States and allies had warned Russian officials they were prepared to impose severe new sanctions on Russia if it launched a new invasion of Ukraine, a country Russia first invaded and partially occupied in 2014. The United States and allies imposed an initial round of sanctions on February 21-23, 2022, in response to Russia’s purported recognition of two Russia-occupied regions in eastern Ukraine as independent states. The United States and allies imposed more sanctions on February 24, 2022, after Russia launched its attack. Members of Congress are considering additional sanctions on Russia and other actions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine..."
Russia's invasion Ukraine