Biden meets European leaders in Brussels

US President Joe Biden and Western allies pledged new sanctions and humanitarian aid on Thursday but their offers fell short of the more robust military assistance urged by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The US leader attended a European Union summit in Brussels as a guest, after taking part in emergency NATO and Group of Seven industrialized nations meetings.

Biden as well as European Council President Charles Michel stressed the importance of unity against Putin, as leaders spent Thursday crafting the next steps to counter Russia’s month-old military operation - and huddling over how they might respond should Putin deploy chemical, biological or even a nuclear weapon.

Biden also announced the U.S. would welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees and provide an additional $1 billion in food, medicine, water and other supplies.