WASHINGTON – U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration imposed more sanctions to cut off Russia from the world’s financial system on Monday after Vladimir Putin moved to invade Ukraine.
U.S. sanctions are targeting the Central Bank of Russia and other major banks, the Russian finance ministry, the national wealth fund, and Putin.
“The United States along with our allies and partners around the world will continue to hold the Russian government accountable,” U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Monday.
The U.S. Treasury Department released a statement including the Russian Direct Investment Fund, or RDIF, in the list of sanctions. RDIF released a statement saying this will affect the promotion of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“These actions will severely impact Putin’s inner circle,” Price said.
There are exceptions for some energy-related transactions until June 24. Price said Putin’s “cronies” in Belarus are next. He also said Americans living in Russia should leave the country.
As Russia threatened nuclear war, Biden said Americans should not worry about a nuclear attack.
In Ukraine, there were rocket and bomb attacks in Kharkiv and Mariupol. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy released a video to talk about the ongoing attacks on besieged cities. He also applied to join the European Union.
“I believe Russia is trying to put pressure with this simple method,” Zelenskyy said adding making concessions is not really an option “when one side is hitting each other with rocket artillery.”
The talks between Russian and Ukrainian diplomats on the Belarusian border were short, but both sides agreed to meet again.
Here is how South Floridians can help Ukrainians
The nonprofit sector is asking for donations to help support Ukrainians. Volunteers report there is a need for medical supplies, food, blankets, and psychological attention for children.
The United Nations estimates more than half a million displaced Ukrainians have sought refuge in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Moldova.
- The Greater Miami Jewish Federation has a fund to assist the Ukrainian Jewish community and is accepting donations via credit card.
- The International Committee of the Red Cross is asking the public to contribute to the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in Ukraine via PayPal or credit card.
- Support Hospitals of Ukraine is raising funds to send 20 40-foot containers to Ukrainian hospitals in Kyiv, Dnipro, Lviv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, and other cities.
- Razom for Ukraine, an organization that supports Democracy in Ukraine, is running an emergency response operation to deliver medical supplies. The Ukrainian organization is accepting donations on Zelle, PayPal, or via bank transfer.
- Razom referred donors to a United Help Ukraine fundraiser on Facebook to buy tactic medicine backpacks for paramedics, first aid kits, tourniquets, blood-stopping gauzes, nasopharyngeal airway tubes, and other medical supplies.
- Razom referred donors to a Revived Soldiers Ukraine fundraiser on Facebook to help injured Ukrainian soldiers get the medical care they need. '
- Razom referred donors to the Sunflower of Peace fundraiser on Facebook to help support doctors and paramedics in Ukraine.
- Ukrainian LGBT Military, created with the support of the NGO Point of Support and the Canadian CFLI Foundation, is accepting donations on PayPal (@ICLOUD with +14152799995) or transfers.
- The National Bank of Ukraine has an account to benefit Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
- The Kyiv Independent set up fundraisers on GoFundMe to continue their work and to help other journalists to cover the war and refugee crisis.
- The World Central Kitchen is helping to feed Ukrainians in the war-torn country. Chef José Andrés is accepting donations on PayPal, and via credit card or bank transfer.
- Charitable Foundation Voices of Children has a team of psychologists who aim to help children to deal with the trauma of war. The organization accepts donations on Privat24 or GPay.
- Save The Children has a mission to help vulnerable Ukrainian children. They are accepting donations for food, blankets, and face masks for health workers.
- Nova Ukraine is a nonprofit organization responding to the crisis. They are accepting donations via PayPal, Crypto and check.
- Malteser International, a non-governmental aid agency, is accepting donations via bank transfer to an account in Pax Bank Cologne.
- Vostok SOS, a charity foundation based out of Kyiv, is running hotlines to help distribute aid to those in need. The organization is accepting donations via bank transfer.
Related coverage
Afternoon report
ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.