Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a predawn attack on Ukraine on Thursday. Explosions were heard in major cities across the Eastern European country, killing at least 40 people.

Ukrainian authorities said Russian forces hit military assets and other defense installations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country had severed diplomatic relations with Russia, adding that “Ukraine is defending itself and will not give up its freedom.”

President Joe Biden condemned the attack in a statement, calling it an “unprovoked and unwarranted attack.” He also said the world would hold Putin responsible for the invasion.

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The US president meets with his national security team followed by a meeting with the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) before a press conference during which he will announce new additional sanctions.

Watch a full replay of Biden’s remarks and read his previous statement on the actions taken by Russia.

Watch Joe Biden’s press conference on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Biden announced new sanctions on Thursday that would ban what can be exported to Russia. He said the measure would prove a “service cost” to the national economy.

“We deliberately designed these sanctions to maximize a long-term impact on Russia and to minimize the impact on the United States and our allies.”

Watch his full remarks here:

What Joe Biden said about Russia in Ukraine

The White House released a statement from Biden on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Thursday morning ahead of his press conference.

“President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will result in catastrophic loss of life and human suffering,” the statement said.

Here is the statement in full:

Prayers from around the world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they come under an unprovoked and unwarranted attack by Russian military forces. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will result in catastrophic loss of human life and human suffering. Russia bears sole responsibility for the death and destruction this attack will cause, and the United States and its allies and partners will respond united and decisively. The world will hold Russia accountable.

I will be monitoring the situation from the White House tonight and will continue to receive regular updates from my national security team. Tomorrow, I will meet with my G7 counterparts in the morning and then I will speak to the American people to announce the new consequences that the United States and our allies and partners will impose on Russia for this unnecessary act of aggression against Ukraine and the world peace and security. We will also coordinate with our NATO allies to ensure a strong and united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance. Tonight, Jill and I pray for the brave and proud people of Ukraine.