Topline
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed Monday that the U.S. is prepared to impose personal sanctions against the Kremlin’s “inner circle” should Russia move forward with an invasion of Ukraine.
Key Facts
Psaki told reporters Monday that the U.S. has “developed specific sanctions packages for both Russian elites and their family members,” clarifying the U.S. is targeting people “complicit in the Kremlin’s destabilizing behavior” in Ukraine, primarily those with strong financial ties to the West.
Reuters first reported the White House’s plan to personally target Kremlin higher-ups Monday morning, citing an anonymous White House official, and President Joe Biden said last week the U.S. was mulling personal sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Psaki said the inner circle sanctions are being “pursued in coordination with allies and partners,” and Liz Truss, the United Kingdom’s foreign secretary, unveiled a similar sanctions plan Monday that would target “anyone providing strategic support close to Vladimir Putin.”
Key Background
A bipartisan economic sanctions package against Russia is at the “1-yard line” of passing through the U.S. Senate, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Sunday. American and Russian diplomatic butted heads at a United Nations Security Council meeting convened Monday. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., condemned Russia for stationing more than 100,000 troops at the Ukraine border, calling the situation “urgent and dangerous.” Vasily Nebenzia, Russia’s U.N. representative, denied Russia’s plans to invade and said the U.S. is “whipping up tensions.”
Chief Critic
Putin’s personal press secretary Dmitry Peskov dismissed the idea of financial sanctions against the president last week, saying penalties wouldn’t be “painful” for Putin but would be “destructive” for countries imposing the sanctions.
What To Watch For
What emerges from the phone conversation between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov set to take place Tuesday. It will be the first time the two have spoken since the U.S. delivered its response to Russia’s list of demands regarding Ukraine last week.
Further Reading
Russia Sanctions Bill At ‘1-Yard Line,’ Says Key Senator (Forbes)
Here’s What To Know About The Russia Talks So Far—And What To Watch For Next (Forbes)
Putin Wouldn’t Be Hurt By Personal Sanctions Suggested By Biden, Russia Says (Forbes)
