As Russian troops line the border with Ukraine, the United States reportedly plans to get involved. According to Ukraine’s border service, the U.S. will fund projects strengthening Ukraine’s borders with Russia and Belarus.
In light of the increasing tension, Russian officials met with American negotiators, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
However, Russia’s apparent desire for Ukraine is nothing new. Russia invaded the Ukraine in 2014 and annexed Crimea. At the time, former President Obama imposed sanctions on Russia. Now, President Biden has room to increase pressure with further sanctions.
“Now, in terms of the specifics, we would prefer to communicate that directly to the Russians, to not negotiate in public, to not telegraph our punches,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said. “But we are laying out for the Russians, in some detail, the types of measures that we have in mind.”