The US will introduce 'significant new sanctions' against Russia on Friday

Following the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and the two-year anniversary of the Russian invasion, the US is planning a 'significant new sanctions package' for Moscow, according to US correspondent John Postma. Meanwhile, there has been little progress in the US support package for Kyiv.

What the new restrictions will look like is not yet fully known. But Postma says it would be a 'significant and substantial package', according to US defense adviser Jack Sullivan. “A part of the Russian defense industry will be affected, and the United States also wants to deal with the sources of income that Russia finances the war industry.”

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The US cites the death of opposition leader Navalny as a cause and the war has now lasted two years. Postma: 'The White House says the exact cause of Navalny's death doesn't matter and that the US should hold Russian President Vladimir Putin responsible anyway.

Use of barriers

There are certainly questions about the usefulness of the new penal measures. “The sanctions have been in place for two years, and you'd think the war industry would suffer the consequences in the meantime,” Postma says. The question is what you can do about it.

Meanwhile, Washington cannot accept new money for Ukraine. The original '95 billion package, of which money for Ukraine is the most important part, was approved by the Senate, but it is unlikely to get the green light from the House of Representatives.

“The plan was shot down by Trump,” Postma said. “It's very strange because Trump is only a presidential candidate and doesn't play an official role. But that's the reality.'

An alternative plan?

According to Postma, a small group of Republican and Democratic members of Congress, mainly from the House of Representatives, has proposed an alternative plan that would provide $70 billion to Ukraine and other allies. “But you can hear from the reaction that this is not going to happen,” the reporter said.