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President Biden Speaks At National League of Cities' Congressional City Conference
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 14: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference on March 14, 2022 in Washington, DC. The National League of Cities is an advocacy group that represents the country's nearly 20,000 cities, towns, and villages.
As retaliation for the Biden administration's sweeping economic sanctions targeting Russian entities over the invasion of Ukraine,
the Russian Foreign Ministry announced sanctions on more than a dozen Americans on Tuesday, including President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. In a statement, Russia's Foreign Ministry said it plans to blacklist additional US officials, military commanders, congressmen, and journalists who are critical of the country.
Russia Sanctions 12 US Officials
Russia has sanctioned 12 current and former government officials, as well as Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden's son. In addition, the following Americans have been sanctioned:
- General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Jake Sullivan, White House national security adviser
- Bill Burns, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
- Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary
- Daleep Singh, Deputy National Security Advisor
- Adewale Adeyemo, Deputy Treasury Secretary
- Reta Jo Lewis, Chairman of the Export-Import Bank
- Samantha Power is the Director of the United States Agency for International Development
- Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State
Officials from the United States who Russia has sanctioned are barred from entering the country, and any assets they disclosed to Russia have been frozen, according to the ministry, but the procedures do not prevent high-level meetings if necessary, according to CBS News.
Russia has also sanctioned Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Russian billionaires and large Russian banks have been sanctioned by the United States, Canada, and European nations. The White House has also imposed penalties on Russian President Vladimir Putin and several of his senior advisors, including a restriction on the import of Russian oil, as per The Hill.
Read Also: Australia, Netherlands Launch Legal Action Against Russia Over Downing of Malaysian Airlines MH17
Joe Biden To Continue Defense Operations
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden is scheduled to travel to Brussels next week for a special NATO summit on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. According to White House press secretary Jen Psaki, Biden will travel overseas next Thursday, who confirmed this at her briefing on Tuesday.
"In response to Russia's unprovoked and unlawful aggression on Ukraine, President Joe Biden will discuss continued deterrence and defense operations, as well as reiterate our unbreakable commitment to our NATO friend. He will also attend a planned European Council Summit on March 24th," she added of the sessions at NATO headquarters.
Biden's trip is being announced as the heads of three Eastern European nations - the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovenia - go to Kyiv to meet with Zelensky. The emergency summit will be convened by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who announced it on Tuesday.
The Russian military has been closing in on Kyiv as Vladimir Putin raises his aggressiveness, and some Russian commentators have recommended using nuclear weapons to bring Ukraine to its knees. The Biden administration has justified its efforts to aid Ukraine, highlighting the humanitarian and supply assistance it has provided on several occasions.
Officials also remind out that the United States and its allies have imposed severe economic sanctions on Putin, his inner circle, and the oligarchs who have become billionaires as a result of Putin's actions, as well as Russia's banks. Psaki praised Biden's actions, saying, "He has approved and accelerated the delivery of more support, military and security assistance to Ukraine than any year in history."
She detailed the $1.2 billion in aid that the US had provided. In addition, the US government's omnibus financing includes an additional $13.6 billion for Ukraine. The White House has decided on a no-fly zone, claiming that it would have to be monitored by American fighters who would be forced to fire on Russian planes, triggering World War III, as they fear, Daily Mail reported.
Related Article: Turkey Refuses To Sanction Russia Over Ukraine Invasion, Plans Alternative Solutions Despite Pressure From NATO Membership
