Kamala Harris news - VP meets Trudeau, refugees in Poland as White House says Russian economy ‘crushed’
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Vice President Kamala Harris is visiting Poland and Romania as part of the United States’ response to Russia’s assault on Ukraine, and part of Ms Harris’s increasingly visible foreign policy role in the Biden administration.
Ms Harris has emerged as a international emissary for President Joe Biden having recently met with multiple heads of state and attended the Munich Security Conference.
On Thursday she met with Poland’s President Andrzej Duda and at a press conference after the meeting called for an international war crimes investigation into Russia’s bombing of civilians in Ukraine.
Ms Harris unveiled more financial support for Ukrainian refugees and met with a group, but evaded a question on civilians fleeing the conflict coming to America.
She also met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who is visiting Warsaw.
Meanwhile, in Washington, DC, President Biden is trying to balance the international situation with pressures on the domestic front. Gas prices are at record highs and inflation has soared 7.9 per cent over the past year — the biggest spike since 1982.
Responding to questions regarding the response to the invasion of Ukraine, White House press secretary Jen Psaki pointed to historically-tough sanctions, declaring: “We have basically crushed the Russian economy.”
The president also met with the President Ivan Duque of Colombia, designating the country as a major non-Nato ally of the US.
Here are the developments that unfolded throughout 10 March 2022.
Diplomat-in-chief Kamala Harris: Why the Vice President is leading the charge on the Ukraine crisis
Kamala Harris calls for international war crimes probe of Russia’s bombing of civilians in Ukraine
Kamala Harris and Polish President Duda deny rift over Ukraine fighter jet saga: ‘That situation is extremely complicated’
House approves ban on Russian oil to US, bolstering Biden
Ted Cruz visits ‘People’s Convoy’ protesters
As almost all states and cities remove measures put in place to counter the spread of Covid-19, the so-called “People’s Convoy” of truckers is still camped out on the outskirts of the greater Washington metropolitan area, protesting the removal of those same restrictions.
Senator Ted Cruz went along for a ride.
Ted Cruz visits ‘People’s Convoy’ protesters, rides shotgun in semi
Republican US Senator Ted Cruz visited the “People’s Convoy” in Maryland, even riding along in the lead vehicle and waving to protesters.
Outrage as Madison Cawthorn calls Zelensky ‘a thug'
There is growing outage after Madison Cawthorn, the far right North Carolina Republican congressman called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “a thug” in a speech to supporters.
“Remember that the Ukrainian government is incredibly corrupt and is incredibly evil and has been pushing woke ideologies,” he said.
Alyssa Farah Griffin, former press secretary to Vice President Mike Pence, wrote: “I try not to criticise Madison because he’s my former intern and I think he genuinely doesn’t know how little he knows. But this is disgraceful and not how a sitting lawmaker should speak about a US ally. MC is echoing Russian propaganda. Wish @TheWayneKing won this seat.”
Brendan Buck, former Capitol Hill aide to Republican speakers Paul Ryan and John Boehner, tweeted: “This kid needs help.”
Could inflation cross 9% in March?
Brace yourself for next month’s CPI figures.
Zip Recruiter chief economist Julia Pollak notes: “The huge gas price increases we’ve seen in recent weeks as a result of Putin’s Ukraine invasion will be reflected in *next* month’s CPI inflation report. Brace yourself.”
While gas prices climbed as the threat of a Russian invasion grew, they have really spiked since Russia began its attack on Ukraine.
Diane Swonk, chief economist for Grant Thornton and adviser to the Federal Reserve, adds that the jump in gas prices from February to March could add more than 0.7 per cent to the year on year measures of the Consumer Price Index for March.
She says that adding other energy, food, persistence in goods prices and further acceleration in services, and year-on-year inflation could go north of 9 per cent for this month.
Harris meets with Ukraine refugees
Per a White House official:
Today the Vice President participated in a roundtable with people displaced from Ukraine. The Vice President listened to their stories, and told the participants she will make sure their voices are heard.
During the roundtable, the Vice President met with seven people who have fled Russian aggression from Ukraine, including a Ukrainian advocate for persons with disabilities, a Moroccan university student, a professional film producer from Odesa, a Senegalese community leader and teacher, a LGBTQIA+ rights activist from Kyiv, and a Ukrainian energy expert and her young adult daughter. She was also joined by Kristina Kvien, Chargé d’affaires of the US Embassy Kyiv. The conversation was moderated by Renee Lariviere, Regional Refugee Coordinator, US Embassy Kyiv.
Mask mandate extended on US planes and trains
If the “People’s Convoy” were looking for a Covid-19 mandate to protest about that still remains enforced, the CDC has just announced that mask rules for airplanes and mass transit will stay in place until 18 April.
Nathan Place reports.
Mask mandate extended on US planes and trains until 18 April
CDC officials say the mandate will remain in effect for at least another month, during which it will be reviewed
Biden speaks with Erdogan
President Joe Biden spoke with Turkey’s President Racep Tayyip Erdogan today about the situation in Ukraine.
A readout from the White House:
President Biden held a telephone call today with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. The presidents discussed their shared concern about Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. They reaffirmed their strong support for the government and people of Ukraine, underscored the need for an immediate cessation of Russian aggression, and welcomed the coordinated international response to the crisis. President Biden expressed appreciation for Turkey’s efforts to support a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, as well as Turkey’s recent engagements with regional leaders that help promote peace and stability. In addition, the presidents discussed opportunities to strengthen bilateral ties.
At today’s press briefing, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the two leaders spoke for almost an hour but would not be drawn on details, including access to the Black Sea.
Would Russian use of chemical weapons constitute a red line?
Reporters at today’s White House press briefing asked Press Secretary Jen Psaki how the US would respond to Russian chemical weapons in Ukraine.
Asked if such an attack would cross a “red line” that would cause the US to get “directly involved” in Ukraine, Ms Psaki said “we are directly involved” by sending military aid, but she reiterated that US troops are not being sent to fight in Ukraine.
She refused to comment on hypothetical situations when pressed on the issue, but added: “We have not let anything go unanswered to date.”
White House doubles down on ‘Putin price hike’ amid accusations increases pre-date invasion
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki tweets: “Oil prices have risen since the beginning of this year at the same time as Putin’s military build-up, threats, and then unprovoked further invasion of Ukraine. That’s higher gas prices – up more than 75 cents.”
She adds: “Analysts have been warning about this impact for many weeks now. That’s why @POTUS was prepared to take swift action to shield Americans from the impact, including a recent coordinated global release of 60m barrels of oil.”
Psaki calls out Russian disinformation on non-existent US weapons labs in Ukraine
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Thursday called out Russian claims that the United States has secretly operated chemical and biological weapons laboratories on Ukrainian territory as a disinformation campaign meant to gloss over Russia’s recent history of using banned chemical weapons.
Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.
Psaki calls out Russian lies about non-existent US weapon labs in Ukraine
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Thursday called out Russian claims that the United States has secretly operated chemical and biological weapons laboratories on Ukrainian territory as a disinformation campaign meant to gloss over Russia’s recent history of using banned chemical weapons.
Ms Psaki is asked if the White House will start blaming every price hike on Putin?
She responds to Fox News’ Pete Doocy: “Well, we’ve seen the price of gas go up at least 75 cents since President Putin lined up troops on the border of Ukraine.”
Mr Doocy also asked if the president would host oil and gas producers.
Referring to President Biden speaking about the power of our example, Mr Doocy asks if he owns an electric vehicle.
Ms Psaki shoots back: “Presidents of the United States don’t do a lot of driving.”
Mr Doocy counters: “Do you own an electric vehicle?”
The press secretary rolls her eyes and moves to the next question.
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