President Joe Biden is planning to impose sanctions directly on Vladimir Putin, the White House announced on Friday.
Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, will also be targeted.
Both the United Kingdom, European Union, and Canada announced on Friday that sanctions would be imposed against Putin and Lavrov.
Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary, stated that the United States would join the European Allies in sanctioning President Putin, Foreign Minister Lavrov, and other members of Russia’s national security team.
According to her, travel bans ‘would form part of US sanctions against Putin and Lavrov.
After the White House placed sanctions on several Russian banks and oligarchs, Putin will be the most targeted. Biden, who was being pressured to hit Putin directly for the attack on Ukraine by his supporters, had previously been against it.
As it’s not clear where Putin has his money and how much, the move will be symbolic.
Bloomberg reports that Putin has just disclosed his financial information. He earns about 10,000,000 rubles per year ($120,050). Putin also owns 3 cars and an apartment.
However, there is also evidence that Putin may own a superyatch with a value of $100 million. And that his estimated worth is $200 billion.
Earlier Friday, Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for about 40 minutes.
Zelensky claimed that Zelensky and the other men talked about stronger sanctions for Russia as well as more support from America.
At @POTUS we just discussed ‘Strengthening sanction, concrete defense assistance, and an anti war coalition. We are grateful [United States]For the solid support [Ukraine]He wrote it on Twitter: “!
Zelensky had demanded that Putin be sanctioned directly.
While the Ukrainian President took to the streets to declare that he was still there, the Ukrainian Forces slowed Russian advance and the civilians fought for Kyiv.
Zelensky was critical of the lack of support by the United States or its allies. He was also battling a Russian-disinformation campaign that he had fled Kyiv.
“We are here. We are here in Kyiv. Zelensky posted a Facebook video saying that we were defending Ukraine. The night sky was visible behind Zelensky as he spoke on Kyiv’s streets.
It is unclear how much support Biden provided Zelensky. He stated that he was ‘target number 1’ for Russian assassins, and that his spouse and children were ‘number 2’.
There are fears he may be assassinated and replaced by a Putin puppet.
Before the phone call, Biden met virtually with fellow NATO members on Friday morning to reassure eastern allies they will be protected as Russian troops prepared to enter Kyiv.
U.S. intelligence officials are worried the Ukrainian capitol could fall within days, CNN reported, as Russian forces are within 20 miles of its location and residents are being urged to make Molotov cocktails to help defend the city.
Amid reports the Kremlin is gunning for him, Zelensky had slammed the United States and its allies for leaving his country to fight alone.
“Who’s ready to stand with us?” He said that he didn’t know anyone on Thursday night. “Who would be willing to guarantee Ukraine NATO membership?” Everybody is scared.
‘We’re defending our country alone. Zelensky explained that some of the strongest forces around are monitoring this situation from far away.
After the meeting, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the 30-nation organization will send parts of the NATO Response Force and elements of a quickly deployable spearhead unit to the alliance´s eastern flank. It´s the first time the force has been used to defend NATO allies.
“We now deploy the NATO Response Force in a collective defense context for the first-time.” This is about thousands of soldiers. Stoltenberg explained that they are talking about maritime and air capabilities.
On Friday, President Joe Biden and NATO member countries will connect virtually to assure eastern allies that they are safe
As they prepare to defend Kyiv from an attack by Russia, the Ukrainian National Guard formed a line on Kyiv’s streets last Friday. They were just before explosions and heavy gunfire were heard.
One brave citizen from Ukraine was filmed trying to stop Russian Tigr M fighting vehicles moving on a road close to Crimea. The scenes are reminiscent of Tiananmen Square’s “tank man”.
US intelligence has revealed that Russian plans for taking Kyiv to force an early ending to the conflict in Ukraine. They claim troops and armour will be used to capture Ukrainian airfields. A force of 10,000 paratroopers will then be sent in to seize the city and round up the government to force them into a peace agreement.
Obama (upper left), is a participant in NATO’s meeting
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg calls leaders together for a virtual summit
General view of the meeting room at a virtual summit, called by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg after Russia launched an extensive military operation against Ukraine in Brussels, Belgium
To negotiate with Ukraine, however, the Kremlin made an offer to send a delegation to Belarus. However it was subject to strict conditions.
Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson said that Russia is ready to send Minsk a delegation. Peskov made it clear, however that Russia was expecting Ukraine to ‘denazification’ and demilitarization of Ukraine. This would mean Kyiv’s surrender.
As Russian aggression increases, some NATO countries are taking defense measures.
Lithuania declared a state of emergency Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine. Lithuania borders Russia´s Kaliningrad region to the southwest. NATO members Belarus, Latvia, and Poland are to their east.
At an emergency summit held by leaders of the European Union, Gitanas Nausa from Lithuania stated that Russia cannot afford to have a (discussion club) with him. “We must take action.”
Baltic member states have urged the West to provide weapons, ammunition, and other military support for Ukraine in an urgent manner. This includes economic, financial and political support as well humanitarian aid.
NATO has been increasing its presence in Northeast Europe since Russia’s 2014 annexe of the Crimean Peninsula. Recenty, NATO members sent aircraft, warships and troops to the Black Sea Region, which is near its allies, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania.
NATO activated an emergency plan system in the short-term to enable commanders to quickly move their forces. On Thursday, the Pentagon announced that it will send 7,000 troops and 5,000 personnel to Europe.
Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine
Ukrainian soldiers are stationed in central Kyiv
In central Kyiv, servicemen from the Ukrainian National Guard are posted
Biden is being pressured to sanction Putin personally. Already, the U.S. sanctioned members of Putin’s inner circle as well as many Russian oligarchs that made their living off Putin’s regime.
Biden stated Thursday that sanctions against the Russian leader were still ‘on the table,’ but refused answer to a question about why Putin was not personally targeted.
According to The New York Times, Putin and Sergey Lavrov’s assets would be frozen by Europe. However, they won’t impose travel restrictions.