WASHINGTON, D.C. (KNX) — Less than 24 hours into the Russian invasian of Ukraine, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday that the United States is prepared to accept Ukrainian refugees should they seek to enter flee their country.
The Russian military launched an invasion of Ukraine around 5 a.m. local time Thursday, despite several warnings of consequences from the U.S. and other international leaders.
When asked during a press briefing if the U.S. would accept fleeing Ukrainians, Psaki said yes, but that officials are expecting many refugees to remain in Europe.
"But we certainly expect that most, if not the majority, will want to go to Europe in neighboring countries. So we are also working with European countries on what the needs are...where there is capacity," she said, adding that many people leaving Ukraine amid the crisis have headed to Poland in the last 24 hours.
Psaki did not answer questions regarding what the U.S. and President Biden have done to prepare to accept Ukrainians into the U.S.
When asked if President Joe Biden has intentions of sending U.S. military troops to Ukraine, Psaki staunchly said that Biden has never had the intention and his decision has not changed as of Thursday.
In response to Russian's military invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ordered a full military mobilization to challenge the Russian troops, according to the Associated Press. He said the mobilization will last for about three months.
In a statement Thursday, the White House, joined by allies and partners, announced that if Russian continues its attack, it will face "isolation from the global financial and trade system and cutting edge technology."
"With today’s financial sanctions, we have now targeted all 10 of Russia’s largest financial institutions, including the imposition of full blocking and correspondent and payable-through account sanctions, and debt and equity restrictions, on institutions holding nearly 80% of Russian banking sector assets," the Whtite House said.
"The scale of Putin’s aggression and the threat it poses to the international order require a resolute response, and we will continue imposing severe costs if he does not change course."
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