WASHINGTON (CN) — Ahead of the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Biden administration rolled out more than 500 new sanctions on Friday.
The sanctions come as the White House has dwindling options to support Ukraine while a proposed aid package languishes in Congress.
“Two years into this war, the people of Ukraine continue to fight with tremendous courage,” President Joe Biden said in a statement. “But they are running out of ammunition. … That’s why the House of Representatives must pass the bipartisan national security supplemental bill, before it’s too late.”
The package was announced to mark Saturday’s two-year anniversary of the invasion and to retaliate for the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
“You can expect more from the administration with respect to holding the Kremlin accountable for Mr. Navalny’s death,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters. “Today was just the start.”
The sanctions target Russia’s Mir payment system, financial institutions, military industry, energy production, parties engaged in sanctions evasion and prison officials the U.S. says are responsible for Navalny’s death.
The State Department said its sanctions are “imposing additional costs on Russia for both its internal repression and foreign aggression.”
The Treasury Department said the U.S. has sanctioned more than 4,000 people and entities, using its “economic tools aimed at disrupting and degrading Russia’s economy and war machine.”
“This solemn anniversary and Aleksey Navalny’s death in Russian custody are stark and tragic reminders of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s brazen disregard for human life,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a press release. “Russia’s economy and military-industrial base are showing clear signs of weakness in part due to the actions we, along with our partners and allies around the world, have taken to support Ukraine’s brave defense.”
While the sanctions target Russia’s economy, the White House has spent the past 10 days putting pressure on Republicans in the House of Representatives to pass a $95 billion aid bill to support Ukraine on the battlefield.
The legislation, which includes about $60 billion for Ukraine, passed the Senate earlier this month, but House Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated he won’t bring it up for a vote.
“[W]e must sustain our support for Ukraine even as we weaken Russia’s war machine,” Yellen said. “It’s critical that Congress steps up to join our allies around the world in giving Ukraine the means to defend itself and its freedom against Putin’s barbarous assault.”
The House recently entered a two-week recess without voting on the legislation.
Washington exhausted all previously approved Ukraine aid at the start of the year. Ukrainians are facing shortfalls in ammunition, leading to a potential turning point in the conflict.
“They are being forced to ration ammunition and equipment because Congress has failed to act,” Kirby said.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Ukraine “faces a tough fight ahead” made more difficult with a lack of U.S. support. Failing to provide aid, he said, threatens national security.
“The world will only become more dangerous if Putin and his fellow autocrats conclude that they can wipe democracies off the map and force free people to live in fear,” he said. “We support Ukraine's fight for freedom, both because it is the right thing to do and because doing so is central to America's continued security.”
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