The U.S. on Thursday announced new sanctions against members of the Russian elite, including Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, and said it would block 19 oligarchs and 47 of their relatives and close associates from traveling to the United States.
The United States will sanction Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, as well as one of Russia's richest men, Alisher Usmanov, according to the White House.
Alexei Nikolsky/Kremlin via Reuters, FILE
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Russian businessman and founder of USM Holdings Alisher Usmanov, Nov. 27, 2018, during an awarding ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow.
Germany had already seized Usmanov's superyacht, and the White House said both the boat and Usmanov's private jet -- which it said was one of the largest privately-owned aircraft in Russia -- would be blocked for use in the U.S. or by Americans.
Yoruk Isik/Reuters, FILE
The Dilbar, a luxury yacht owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, sails in the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, May 29, 2019.
"These are significant steps that will impact the people who are closely around President Putin," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters."We want him to feel the squeeze. We want the people around him to feel the squeeze."
Sergei Bobylev/TASS via Getty Images
Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends the 24th St Petersburg International Economic Forum at the ExpoForum Convention and Exhibition Center in St. Petersburg, Russia.
President Joe Biden touched on the latest U.S. actions against Russia at the top of the fourth Cabinet meeting of his administration, saying the steps his administration and its allies have already taken are having a "profound impact."
Biden said the Russian oligarchs being sanctioned "line their pockets with Russian people's money and while Ukraine and the people are hiding in subways from missiles that are being fired indiscriminately from Russian cities."
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.