WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� The White House says it is preparing additional 鈥渕ajor sanctions鈥� on Russia in response to opposition leader Alexei Navalny's in an Arctic penal colony.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the sanctions, on the eve of the two-year anniversary of Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine, 鈥渨ill be a substantial package covering a range of different elements of the Russian defense industrial base, and sources of revenue for the Russian economy that power Russia鈥檚 war machine, that power Russia鈥檚 aggression, and that power Russia's repression.鈥�
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday that the U.S. had not determined how Navalny had died, but insisted that the ultimate responsibility lay with Putin.
鈥淩egardless of the scientific answer, Putin鈥檚 responsible for it,鈥� he told reporters.
The Treasury Department declined to comment on the details of the upcoming sanctions Brian Nelson, the department's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, is in Europe this week to continue working on Russia sanctions ahead of the two year anniversary.
鈥淭he global coalition imposing unprecedented sanctions on Russia鈥檚 war machine has thrown sand in the gears of the Kremlin鈥檚 efforts to equip and supply its military. President Biden recently expanded Treasury鈥檚 authorities to target those funding Russia鈥檚 war production efforts 鈥� even if they鈥檙e located in third countries 鈥� and Treasury is aggressively pursuing those who attempt to evade our sanctions," the Treasury department said last week. "Multilateral sanctions and export controls have forced hard tradeoffs for Putin and damaged his ability to project power now and in the future.鈥�
Policy experts have advanced an array of proposals meant to starve Russia of the money it needs to continue its invasion 鈥� from seizing the nation鈥檚 Central Bank funds housed largely in Europe to lowering the Group of Seven price cap in Russian oil.
A from the International Working Group on Russian Sanctions at Stanford University calls for heavier sanctions in Russia鈥檚 energy market 鈥� from lowering the current $60 price cap on Russian-produced oil to $30, as well as completing the EU and G7 ban on Russian hydrocarbons.
Zeke Miller And Fatima Hussein, The Associated Press
