By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden met on Thursday with counterparts from Group of Seven allies to plan more serious measures against Russia following President Vladimir Putin’s “premeditated war” against Ukraine.

A White House official said that Biden spoke late on Wednesday with Volodymyr Zilenskiy, Ukraine’s President. On Thursday, he met his National Security Council members to discuss latest developments in Ukraine.

The White House stated that he would make his first public comments on the conflict in Ukraine at 12:20 p.m. ET (1730 GMT). Biden and G7 counterparts are preparing to react to the worst case scenario, imposing severe sanctions against Russia to increase gasoline prices in West.

According to a White House official, the virtual meeting of the United States with its allies concluded at 10.27 am.

Biden met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Biden also met Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. Fumio Kimio Kishida was the Japanese Prime Minister. Boris Johnson was British Prime Minister. Ursula von der Leyen is President of European Commission, Charles Michel President of European Council, Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary-General NATO.

This group looked at possible ways of responding to the “unprovoked attack by Russian military force forces on Ukraine” that Biden called late Wednesday.

Biden stated that Putin (President) has chosen to wage a premeditated conflict which will cause a terrible loss of human life and suffering.”

The explosions occurred shortly after Putin had told Russian state television that he authorized military operations in Ukraine.

The White House announced that Biden would announce the “further consequences” the United States, our allies and partner will impose upon Russia later Thursday.

According to the U.S. President, Washington will also cooperate with NATO Allies in order “to provide a united and strong response that prevents aggression against the alliance.”

NATO is scheduled to meet at an emergency summit this Friday. However, NATO on Thursday announced that it would be increasing troop presence in its eastern flank as well as putting hundreds upon alert.

Biden was America’s vice-president and deeply involved in 2014 Russia’s annexed of the Crimea Region of Ukraine. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will join Biden for the G7 call at the White House Situation Room.

G7 is made up of the United States, Canada, Japan and Britain.

TOUGHER SACTIONS REQUESTED

Biden orchestrated a first round of Western sanctions on Russian financial institutions, oligarchs and exports last week. Now, he is being pressured by fellow Democrats and Republicans to take a harder stance against Moscow.

Adam Schiff, a member of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, stated to CNN Wednesday that China is closely monitoring Western actions with an eye on whether or not it might invade Taiwan.

He said, “We need to ensure that Putin doesn’t go forward with his invasion further… that Russia is not left behind in the worst possible situation.”

Schiff suggested that America and its allies must impose the “most severe sanctions possible” within a short time, which includes a temporary halt to Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany. This is under the Baltic Sea.

In a statement following the Russian attack, Republican Senator Rob Portman called for tough sanctions and rigid export control. He also demanded that Ukraine’s military assistance be increased to other allies like Poland, Romania, and the Baltic states.

Top U.S. officials had been scheduled to inform Congressmen by telephone later Thursday.

U.S. officials warn that Moscow could pay even more if it persists in its aggression.

Washington imposed sanctions against the company that built the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, worth $11 billion, and their corporate officers on Wednesday. Biden previously resisted this move for many months.

Germany has stopped the approvals for the new pipeline. It was already in construction but not yet operational. This is amid worries that Moscow could use it to control Europe’s energy sources.

Boris Johnson, British Prime Minster, pledged Thursday “a large package of economic penalties.”

Next steps could include sanctions against other Russian banks including Sberbank, VTB and steps to stop U.S. banks from processing major Russian banking transactions, as well as export controls for U.S. or foreign-made goods from electronics to computers and semiconductors to aircraft parts.