White House Spokeswoman Jen Psaki Briefs Media

The Press Secretary's briefing comes in the wake of US President Joe Biden announcing a ban on imports of oil, liquefied natural gas and coal from Russia.

Sputnik comes live from Washington DC where the White House's Press Secretary Jen Psaki is giving a press briefing.

Psaki is addressing Washington's press lobby the day after President Biden announced a ban on oil, liquefied natural gas, and coal from Russia because of its special military operation in Ukraine.

According to Russia's President Vladimir Putin, the operation, which is nearing its second week, is designed to protect the civilian population in Ukraine's breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk and "demilitarise and de-Nazify" Ukraine. The West has reacted to Russia's operation with unprecedented sanctions and has pledged to provide all kinds of assistance to Kiev while hostilities persist.

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