Biden news - live: President speaks with Zelensky amid warnings Putin’s forces could storm Kyiv within hours

Follow the latest updates on President Joe Biden’s address to the nation about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Biden says that ‘Putin chose this war and he will pay’ as US ready to use ‘full force’

President Joe Biden has called Russian president Vladimir Putin an “aggressor” who “chose this war” as he announced a series of “major” sanctions against Russia for invading Ukraine.

Mr Biden said the sanctions will have a “long-term” impact on Moscow as the US was restricting large Russian banks and targeting families who are close to the Kremlin.

Mr Biden’s address to the nation came after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday morning with a series of missile attacks on cities including the capital Kiev.

Since then, dozens of Ukrainians have been killed, civilians are fleeing their homes, global markets have plunged and Russian forces have seized the site of the Chernobyl nuclear plant.

The United Nations meanwhile is expected to vote on a US-drafted resolution condemning Russia on Friday.

Though the resolution is likely to fail with Russia exercising its veto, US and its allies want to send the message that Russia stands isolated for its actions.

In addition, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley has also also had a phone conversation with allies in Europe today to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

KEY POINTS

• Biden says Putin ‘will pay’, announces ‘major’ sanctions on Russia
• Russia's financial institutions, energy sector target of US sanctions
• Mitch McConnell urges Biden to ‘ratchet up’ sanctions against Russia
• Former presidents Bush and Obama back Biden’s sanctions
• President to nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson to Scotus

[25 February 2022 22:00 · John Bowden]

CDC relaxes masking guidelines

Adding to the pile-on of news this week, the Centers for Disease Control announced on Friday that residents of counties that are judged to be places of “low” to “medium” risk of Covid transmission could go maskless indoors.

The non-binding CDC guidelines have for months stressed the use of masks in indoor settings for all Americans, including those vaccinated against Covid-19. Today’s decision affects more than half of the population based on current CDC risk assessments.

“We are in a stronger place today as a nation to protect communities from Covid-19,” Dr Rochelle Walensky said on Friday. “We want to give people a break from things like mask wearing when risks are low.”

Read more from The Independent:

[25 February 2022 21:30 · John Bowden]

FCC reviews US media companies for Russian ownership

The top telecommunications authority in the US began a review of companies it regulates to better understand the level of Russian ownership in US media and communications companies this week.

Any company with an FCC license will now have its ownership models scrutinised for connections to Moscow, according to CNN.

[25 February 2022 21:03 · John Bowden]

Biden will sanction Putin and Russian foreign minister Lavrov for Ukraine invasion, White House announces

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday that the US would join the EU in instituting sanctions against Vladimir Putin and a top deputy, Sergei Lavrov.

Ms Psaki made the revelation at her daily press briefing, stating that the decision was made following a phone call between Joe Biden and the president of the European Commission.

“The United States will join them in sanctioning President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov and members of the Russian national security team,” she said.

Read more at The Independent:

[25 February 2022 20:27 · John Bowden]

Mike Pence: Russia sanctions should go further

Vice President Mike Pence joined a growing crowd of both Republicans and Democrats who are calling for more severe penalties to be levied on Russia as a response to its invasion of Ukraine on Friday.

In an interview with Fox News, he claimed that the US had the power to unilaterally institute sanctions that would “force” Russia’s military to withdraw from Ukrainian territory.

"The fact that we have not yet imposed the level of punitive sanctions that would be required not just to stop Putin’s advance but to get the Russians to ultimately withdraw from Ukraine is incomprehensible to me," he said.

Mr Biden and the White House are expected to announce more sanctions and other punishments for the invasion in the days ahead.

[25 February 2022 19:35 · John Bowden]

Ketanji Brown Jackson thanks Breyer in speech

President Joe Biden’s Supreme Court nominee thanked the justice she is hoping to replace on the Court on Friday as she recognised both his legacy on the bench as well as his own personal influence on her career.

Ketanji Brown Jackson gave brief remarks at the White House on Friday alongside Mr Biden, and shared warm words for Justice Stephen Breyer, the retiring Supreme Court justice for whom Ms Brown Jackson previously clerked.

“Justice Breyer not only gave me the greatest job that any young lawyer could ever hope to have, but he also exemplified every day in every way that a Supreme Court justice can perform at the highest level of skill and integrity, while also being guided by civility,” she said.

To Mr Breyer, she added: “The members of the Senate will decide if I fill your seat, but please know that I could never fill your shoes.”

[25 February 2022 19:21 · John Bowden]

Biden formally nominates Ketanji Brown Jackson

President Joe Biden stood alongside Ketanji Brown Jackson at the White House on Friday and made his selection of the first Black woman to be nominated to the Supreme Court official.

Speaking early Friday afternoon Mr Biden noted the historic precedent being set by Ms Brown Jackson’s nomination and stated that it was about time the Supreme Court more accurately represent America’s population.

"For too long, our government and our courts haven't looked like America. I believe it's time that we have a court that reflects the full talents and greatness of our nation with a nominee of extraordinary qualifications," he said.

"For too long, our government and our courts haven't looked like America. I believe it's time that we have a court that reflects the full talents and greatness of our nation with a nominee of extraordinary qualifications," President Biden says. pic.twitter.com/vD7ROZm43R

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) February 25, 2022

[25 February 2022 18:52 · John Bowden]

Former GOP Speaker Paul Ryan praises relative Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court

Republican Paul Ryan, the former Speaker of the House, praised Joe Biden’s nomination of his distant relative Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court on Friday, stating that while they had ideological differences that his praise for her character and intellect was “unequivocal”.

Janna and I are incredibly happy for Ketanji and her entire family. Our politics may differ, but my praise for Ketanji's intellect, for her character, and for her integrity, is unequivocal.

— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) February 25, 2022

Read more about their family connection from The Independent’s Eric Garcia:

[25 February 2022 18:16 · John Bowden]

Biden talks with Zelensky

President Joe Biden spoke with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday as the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces entered its second day.

Mr Biden vowed tough sanctions against Russia and Belarus on Thursday, but so far the US and Europe have not gone as far with punishing economic measures as Ukraine’s government would like.

The White House told reporters that the call lasted a little more than a half hour.

[25 February 2022 17:13 · Harriet Sinclair]

Marsha Blackburn slams Biden over SCOTUS pick

Republican Marsha Blackburn has hit out at President Joe Biden over his SCOTUS nomination and the timing of the annoucement, bizarrely claiming he has put the needs of the “radical left” above the US, despite Mr Biden previously pledging to make his nomination public by the end of February.

[25 February 2022 15:50 · John Bowden]

NAACP president applauds Biden Scotus pick

Derrick Johnson, head of the NAACP, praised Joe Biden’s Supreme Court pick in a statement on Friday after the news was made public. Ketanji Brown Jackson will be the first Black woman nominated (or confirmed) to the Supreme Court.

"The NAACP applauds President Biden's nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. This is a historic moment for our nation and our community in particular. President Biden has met this moment with an extraordinarily qualified nominee, who has stellar credentials and an impeccable background," said Mr Johnson, leader of one of America’s oldest and most powerful civil rights groups.