NEW: Two former top staffers to Mitch McConnell have lobbied Congress and Treasury on the development of a new Kentucky mill backed by Russian aluminum giant Rusal. McConnell's office won't say whether he's been lobbied by them directly.
w/@theodoricmeyer politico.com/story/2019/07/…
@theodoricmeyer The lobbying push by McConnell’s former staffers, one of whom left his office in November 2016 and the other who left a year ago, also comes as McConnell is being criticized for blocking election security bills in the wake of Russia’s interference in the 2016 campaign.
Rusal was only able to make the $200M investment after it won sanctions relief from Treasury earlier this year.
Attention over the sanctions relief deal has focused on McConnell, given his role in halting a bipartisan congressional effort to stop the sanctions rollback.
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Biden: "This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine...so I am going to begin to impose sanctions in response, far beyond" anything implemented in 2014. And if Russia continues its invasion sanctions will go even further, Biden says.
"Russia has now undeniably moved against Ukraine by declaring these independent states," Biden says. Says US implementing full blocking sanctions on VEB and Russia's military bank, sanctions on Russia's sovereign debt, and in coming days--Russia's elites and family members.
Nord Stream 2 will not move forward, Biden says. Biden says he has authorized today, in response to Russia's refusal to withdraw troops from Belarus, additional movements of US forces and equipment already stationed in Europe to strengthen Baltic allies.
Biden: "The Russian defense minister reported today that some military units are leaving their positions near Ukraine. That would be good....We have not yet verified that...Indeed, our analysts indicate that they remain very much in a threatening position."
"To the citizens of Russia, you are not our enemy.
And I do not believe you want a bloody destructive war against Ukraine, a country and the people with whom you share such deep ties of family history and culture."
"While I will not send American servicemen to fight in Ukraine, we have supplied Ukraine with military equipment to help them defend themselves. We have provided training and advice and intelligence for the same purpose."
NSA Jake Sullivan declines to comment on US intelligence with regard to Russian invasion, but says "it could begin during the Olympics despite speculation that it would only happen after the Olympics."
Sullivan says an invasion would likely begin with aerial bombing and missile attacks, followed by a ground invasion. Reiterates to Americans that it is time to leave now, while commercial options exist and roads are open. US military will not be sent in for rescues, he says.
"We are not saying a final decision has been made by President Putin," Sullivan says. But "we are in an urgent situation."
"Russia has all the forces it needs to conduct a major military action," he says, "in very short order."
Breaking: Pentagon Press Sec Kirby confirms that US will soon move additional forces to Romania, Poland and Germany. “These are not permanent moves,” he says. “These forces are not going to fight in Ukraine.” Going to shore up NATO allies.
So: 1,000 troops will be moved from Germany to Romania
And 2,000 will be moved from the US to Europe— Specifically, to Poland and Germany.
These forces are separate and in addition to the 8,500 troops on heightened alert now in the US, Kirby says.
Kirby confirms El País reporting on documents US and NATO sent to Russia, says US didn’t leak it but now that it’s out there, it shows unity among allies english.elpais.com/usa/2022-02-02…
Breaking: State Dept announces reducing staff at Embassy in Kyiv. “The Department of State authorized the voluntary departure of US direct hire employees and ordered the departure of eligible family members from Embassy Kyiv due to the continued threat of Russian military action”
Continued: “US citizens in Ukraine should consider departing now using commercial or other privately available transportation options.”
CNN reported Friday that the embassy had requested that the State Department authorize this departure as Russia has continued to mass forces and equipment near Ukraine’s borders, sparking fears of a renewed invasion. cnn.com/2022/01/21/pol…
Breaking: The UK foreign office said in a statement on Saturday that it has information the Russian government is planning to "install a pro-Russian leader in Kyiv as it considers whether to invade and occupy Ukraine."
“The former Ukrainian MP Yevhen Murayev is being considered as a potential candidate," the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said in a statement.
NSC spokesperson @emilyhorne46 says in response “This kind of plotting is deeply concerning. The Ukrainian people have the sovereign right to determine their own future, and we stand with our democratically-elected partners in Ukraine.”