“Today, I have directed my administration to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and its corporate officers. These steps are another piece of our initial tranche of sanctions in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine,” Biden said in a statement.
On Wednesday, the United Kingdom warned the Russian government that it was ready to impose more rounds of devastating sanctions should Moscow push farther into Ukraine.
“This is just the start,” said Tariq Ahmad, Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations, referencing the U.K.’s previously announced sanctions.
“If Russia continues its campaign of aggression, we have a further package of sanctions ready to go. We asked the wider international community to join us in this effort,” Ahmad told the international forum.
Ahmad’s remarks follow the United Kingdom’s largest sanctions package against Russia.
“We must meet Russia’s aggressive acts with solidarity with strength including through coordinated sanctions to impose a severe cost on Russian interests and their economy,” he continued.
Ahmad warned that further Russian military action will take a horrific toll not only on Ukrainians but also on Russians, calling both “victims of an unnecessary war of the Kremlin’s choosing.”
“They are literally ready to go now if they get the order to go,” the official stated.
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to share new details of the Pentagon’s assessment, noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin has assembled enough aviation, maritime and ground assets to “conduct a large-scale invasion.”
“What continues to give us concern is the full range of capabilities that Mr. Putin has at his disposal right now, everything from significant offensive missile capability to offensive ground power. He has more than two dozen warships in the Black Sea,” the official continued.