Rusia ukrain war

Ukrain Justice Department is assembling a task force "to go after the crimes of Russian oligarchs," President Biden said Tuesday during his State of the Union address.

When the Soviet Union collapsed in the 1990s Ukraine was one of the largest new nations to emerge. It held its first elections in 1991.

Bordered by Russia on the east and by Hungary, Poland and Slovakia on the west, politics in Ukraine have always been divided along those looking east towards Russia and those looking to the West.

Putin has said that Ukraine is “ancient Russian soil” but the majority of Ukrainians don’t feel this way, with 68% of Ukrainians in favour of joining the EU.

"We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts, your luxury apartments, your private jets," Mr. Biden said. "We are coming for your ill-begotten gains."

The Justice Department is expected to step up its efforts to investigate whether assets of some oligarchs could be linked to illicit activity, which would allow the U.S. government to perform seizures. Mr. Biden didn’t elaborate on the Justice Department's task force and department spokespeople did not immediately provide details.