Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops to eastern Ukraine as a "peacekeeping" operation.
In response, Germany halted the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline as the threat of a Russian invasion looms.
US Press Secretary Jen Psaki praised Germany for the move and said "We will be following up with our own measures today."
Jen Psaki praises Germany for shutting down Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline over Russian invasion threatWhite House press secretary Jen Psaki.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki commended Germany for shutting down the Nord Stream 2 pipeline after Russia sent troops to Ukraine.
"[Joe Biden] made clear that if Russia invaded Ukraine, we would act with Germany to ensure Nord Stream 2 does not move forward," Psaki tweeted. "We have been in close consultations with Germany overnight and welcome their announcement."
She added: "We will be following up with our own measures today."
The UK announced sanctions against five major banks and three individuals on Tuesday in its first move to punish Russia for sending troops to Ukraine.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson called it the "first tranche, the first barrage" of sanctions over its aggression towards Ukraine.
The five banks are Rossiya, IS Bank, General Bank, Promsvyazbank, and the Black Sea Bank. Three individuals – Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg, and Igor Rotenberg – were also named.
Germany axes pivotal Nord Stream 2 pipeline bringing Russian gas to EuropeGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz on February 22, 2022.
JOHN MACDOUGALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Germany scrapped plans for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline Tuesday after Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in an address on the Ukraine crisis Tuesday that he is going to "reassess" the certification, a necessary approval for the pipeline to start moving gas from Russia to Europe.
Putin orders Russian troops to eastern Ukraine for 'peacekeeping' operation, a major escalation towards a warVladimir Putin of Russia gives a televised address on Ukraine on February 21, 2022. Shortly after, he recognized the separatist regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent and ordered troops there.
Alexei Nikolsky\TASS via Getty Images
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Eastern Ukraine on Monday as a "peacekeeping operation," escalating the conflict between the two countries.
Putin signed a presidential decree allowing the "peacekeeping" after he decided to recognize Donetsk and Luhansk, two separatist territories that are loyal to Moscow, as independent states rather than a part of Ukraine.
Russia has been building up forces around Ukraine for months, while the US and its allies have warned Russia not to invade the country or face severe sanctions.
