US preparing sanctions for 'Russian elite, family members' in case of 'invasion'
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Despite the Russian and Ukrainian denials of any imminent invasion, the United States is still threatening Russia with sanctions in case of any escalation.
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White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, United States
The United States has concocted sanctions against what it called "the Russian elite and their family members" if Russia attacks Ukraine, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday.
"I can confirm we have developed specific sanctions packages for both Russian elites and their family members if Russia further invades Ukraine," Psaki said during a press briefing.
"These efforts are being pursued in coordination with allies and partners," she added.
Psaki claimed that those identified by the US administration "are in or near the inner circles of the Kremlin and play a role in government decision-making or are at minimum complicit in the Kremlin's destabilizing behavior."
She also asserted that many of the aforementioned individuals were "particularly vulnerable" due to having deep financial ties with the West.
UK not ruling out possibility of seizing Russian property
On Sunday, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said London was not ruling out the possibility of seizing the British property of Russian "oligarchs" as part of tighter sanctions against Moscow in case of an escalation with Ukraine.
Truss, when asked if the decision would affect British investors, Truss said "freedom and democracy" were "more important than immediate financial issues."
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reminded her on Monday of a list of former corrupt officials whom Russia has long asked to extradite.
The US and several Western allies have long been accusing Russia of preparing for a military invasion of Ukraine and amassing 100,000 troops on the borders with its western neighbor, but both Kyiv and Moscow have been denying the ordeal for months.
The EU and Washington have been warning Russia against invading Ukraine, threatening massive and unprecedented economic sanctions that could go as far as affecting Putin personally.
