Biden: This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, will impose sanctions

US President Joe Biden, in a national address on Tuesday, called the latest steps by Russia to recognize the independence of breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, as well as to move troops into the area, the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Biden’s speech comes amid calls by Lawmakers across the political spectrum to impose crushing new sanctions against Russia after President Vladmir Putin ordered troops into two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.

Some of Biden’s Democratic allies in Congress pressed him to be clearer about America’s response, including advocating that he call Putin’s military actions an unequivocal “invasion” of a sovereign U.S. ally.

“If you know the history of aggressive dictators, you know it’s critical not to lose clarity. Putin is invading Ukraine. Full stop. He’s done it before, and he will do it again if … we don’t impose full sanctions,” Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., a member of the House Intelligence Committee, tweeted Tuesday.

Himes argued Putin benefits from rhetorical division about whether his ordering of troops into the eastern part of Ukraine qualified as an invasion.

The moment for bipartisanship may be short — giving lawmakers only days or weeks to formulate a legislative response before retreating into their partisan corners and lobbing criticism instead of cooperation.