Biden administration prepares to impose sanctions on Russia over Navalny poisoning and SolarWinds cap

Biden administration prepares to impose sanctions on Russia over Navalny poisoning and SolarWinds cap

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Discussions on the response to the devastating breach of the security of at least nine federal agencies and dozens of private companies are still ongoing, but could come within a few weeks, the U.S. official said, pointing out that the package is likely to include sanctions and a cyber component will include, as well as other options that make clear how seriously the Biden government views Russia’s actions more broadly.

The form that the Navalny sanctions will take is being strengthened and it is likely to be rolled out in cooperation with the European Union, the two administrative officials said.

The move would be the first cost to Russia imposed by the Biden administration, and it would be a clear departure from the Trump administration’s strategy, which did not impose fines on the poisoning and shunned Russia directly. confronts about his misdeeds.

EU High Representative Josep Borrell said on Tuesday that Foreign Minister Antony Blinken had asked to coordinate actions against Russia over the Navalny case. Blinken addressed the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN last week that the Biden government’s response to the hack would come soon. “We are not talking about months from now, but about weeks from now that the United States will be willing to take the first steps in response to solar winds,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan also said that “what the previous government said was a quote” that it was probably of Russian origin. “We believe we can go beyond that. ‘

The Biden administration is not starting over because it is setting up options for Navalny sanctions. The State Department last year drew up options under the Trump administration, but it was never imposed, a decision that obscured officials at the job level it developed, one of the officials explained.

Politico first reported that preparations were underway for Navalny sanctions, and the Washington Post first reported the SolarWinds discussions.
Career diplomats have become frustrated in the Trump administration over lack of action regarding Russia. They privately welcomed the direct nature of President Joe Biden’s first phone call to Putin, in which he confronted Putin about Russia’s malicious activities that former President Donald Trump often avoided, three US diplomats told CNN.

The Trump administration’s action has brought the US out of step with its European allies over Navalny’s poisoning. EU countries imposed Navalny sanctions shortly after its poisoning last year, but the US did not.

Blinken on Monday virtually participated in the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) and said he “welcomes the EU’s decision to impose sanctions on Russia under the Human Rights Sanctions Government in response to actions against [Navalny] and his supporters. ‘

Alexey Navalny remains in jail for dismissing his appeal. Then he was fined $ 11,500 in defamation

Biden administration officials point to ongoing intelligence reviews and their need to fully understand the state of affairs before implementing their entire Russia policy. The intelligence review includes the violation of SolarWinds, Russian interference in the 2020 election, the use of chemical weapons against Russia against Navalny, and the alleged compensation for U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Administration officials have promised that the intelligence review will move as quickly as possible.

“The office of the director of national intelligence is working very quickly on this review,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said earlier this month. “I would not expect this review to take longer than necessary.”

CNN’s Jennifer Hansler contributed to this report.

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