Alexey Navalny poisoning: Biden administration plans to sanction Russia this week

The sanctions will be launched in coordination with the European Union, officials said. The exact timing and measures will be defined by US and EU officials in the coming days.

These sanctions would be the first costs imposed on Russia by the Biden government and will set the tone for its policy towards Moscow in the future. They would mark a clear departure from the approach of the Trump administration, which refused to impose penalties for poisoning and avoided directly confronting Russia for its nefarious actions.

The Biden government is trying to send a “strong message” about human rights and the importance of acting alongside allies with these sanctions, and there are plans to address a broader set of challenges posed by Russia in the coming weeks, officials said.

One option to be discussed is an executive order focused on Russia, which would trigger sanctions on the country for several attacks on democracy and American personnel – including the SolarWinds hack and the rewards placed on American soldiers in Afghanistan – in a package, an official explained. .

The White House and the State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

When President Joe Biden spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time in January, he addressed the widespread malicious activity of the Russians. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that “Biden’s intention was also to make it clear that the United States will act firmly in defense of our national interests in response to Russia’s evil actions.”

The US did not impose sanctions on Russia for Navalny poisoning, but the EU imposed sanctions last year. The US is expected to apply additional sanctions in addition to those it is doing alongside the EU, so that the US and the EU are on an equal footing when it comes to imposing a cost on Russia.

The sanctions will include individuals and entities, an official said.

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