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