Media: US Preparing “Damn Aggressive” Sanctions Package in Case of Russian Invasion of Ukraine

The US will send reinforcements to NATO's eastern flank in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

US authorities are developing a new sanctions package designed to deter Russia from a military invasion of Ukraine. This was reported by sources speaking to CNN. 

The sanctions include restrictions against Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle and Russian “oligarchs,” measures against banks and energy companies, sanctions against Russia's sovereign debt, and a potential “nuclear option”: disconnecting Russia from the SWIFT interbank transfer system. 

One source said: “We have put together a damn aggressive package.” According to him, Moscow has been warned: if it invades Ukraine, the US and Europe will impose the harshest economic sanctions ever applied to any country other than Iran and North Korea. 

Bloomberg, citing sources, reports that the US and EU are considering sanctions against Russian banks and the Russian Direct Investment Fund in the event of an invasion of Ukraine. Options under consideration include restrictions on converting rubles into other currencies and restrictions on buying Russian debt obligations on the secondary market. 

US Troop Deployment to Eastern Europe

Media also cite a senior US official, reporting that the country will send reinforcements to NATO's eastern flank in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, as reports say. 

According to him, the US will give a “positive response” to requests to reinforce troops on NATO's eastern border. Biden will also make clear to Putin that the US does not rule out Ukraine's future NATO membership, as the Russian president has demanded. 

The official “made it clear” to journalists that Biden will not threaten a direct US military response. The official said: “Of course, if Putin moved there, there would be more requests from eastern flank allies, as well as a positive response from the United States regarding additional forces.” 

Biden to Speak with Zelensky

US President Joe Biden will speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after his conversation with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, not before, as previously reported. 

Dmytro Kuleba
Foreign Minister of Ukraine

The president spoke with the US Secretary of State; indeed, the conversation ended an hour ago. After Biden's conversation with Putin, we will also learn what it was about. That is, there will be contacts at a high and very high level. We have established a very candid, dynamic and trusting dialogue with the US in this regard. 

Kuleba denied media reports that Biden and Zelensky would talk before the call with the Russian president. He noted that the plan is for Zelensky to speak with Secretary of State Antony Blinken before the conversation, and after the call, the presidents will talk. 

Zelensky reported on Twitter that in his conversation with Blinken, they “coordinated positions.” 

Volodymyr Zelensky
President of Ukraine

Coordinated positions with Blinken before the Biden and Putin presidential conversation. Agreed to continue acting jointly and in a coordinated manner. Grateful to our strategic partner and ally, the US, for constant support of our sovereignty and territorial integrity. Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. 

Russia Continues to Build Up Troops

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin, during a meeting with US defense department leaders, discussed the situation around Ukraine, which is characterized by a further buildup of Russian military forces. 

John Kirby
Spokesperson for the US Department of Defense

I can say that the defense secretary attended a meeting this morning with key department leaders, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the commander of the European Command, General Wolters, to discuss the situation in Ukraine and, of course, in western Russia. We continue to see additional potential that President Putin keeps increasing — additional military potential — in the western part of his country and around Ukraine. 

The Pentagon representative noted that he would not go into details of intelligence assessments of the situation. According to him, the US defense secretary, together with the country's military and political leadership, is thoroughly briefed on what is happening around Ukraine. 

Normandy Format

Leaders of the states and governments in the Quint format (Germany, the US, France, Italy and the UK) spoke in favor of resuming negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in the Normandy format. 

A statement from the Élysée Palace says: “Five heads of state and government shared their analysis of tensions between Russia and Ukraine, expressed their determination to respect the sovereignty of the latter, and stated their commitment to act to maintain peace and security in Europe.” 

The leaders recalled the need to resume negotiations between Russia and Ukraine within the so-called “Normandy” group under the auspices of France and Germany. 

Biden Spoke with Other Leaders

US President Joe Biden, ahead of a video conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussed the situation on Ukraine's border with the leaders of Italy, France, Germany and the UK. 

A statement on the White House website says: “The leaders discussed their shared concern about the buildup of the Russian army on Ukraine's borders and Russia's increasingly harsh rhetoric. They called on Russia to de-escalate tensions and agreed that diplomacy, especially through the “Normandy format,” is the only way to resolve the conflict in Donbas by implementing the Minsk agreements.” 

The leaders stressed their support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. 

In Washington, it was stated that “they agreed that their teams will remain in close contact, including in consultations with NATO allies and EU partners, through a coordinated and comprehensive approach.”