Aiexpress – President Biden is currently considering imposing additional sanctions on Russia in response to the tragic passing of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny.
“We already have sanctions in place, but we are contemplating the implementation of further sanctions,” stated Mr. Biden to reporters upon his return to the White House from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
On Friday, President Biden accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being responsible for Navalny’s death, stating that while the United States is not certain about the exact details, it is clear that this tragic event occurred as a result of actions taken by Putin and his associates.
Navalny’s demise was announced on Friday by Russian prison officials, who revealed that the dissident had become unwell during a walk and subsequently lost consciousness shortly afterwards.
His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, who lives in exile outside Russia, said Monday that authorities were “hiding his body” and “refusing to give it to his mother.” She accused the Kremlin of poisoning her husband, claiming that Russian authorities were delaying turning over his body to allow traces of the poison to disperse.
The United States has already implemented numerous rounds of stringent sanctions against Russian officials, institutions, and businesses in response to their invasion of Ukraine two years ago.
During a press conference on Friday, reporters asked Mr. Biden about his stance on escalating sanctions against Russia. In response, he stated that he was actively considering “a range of options” to address the situation.
President Biden has also taken the opportunity to emphasize the danger that Russia poses by using Navalny’s death as an example. He has urged Congress to approve additional funding for Ukraine, but he expressed uncertainty about whether the tragic event would be enough to persuade House Republicans to hold a vote on providing more aid to Ukraine.
“I do hope that their minds will change, but I’m not entirely confident about it,” he expressed, while emphasizing that Republicans are committing a significant error by not providing a response.”
