Joe Biden threatens Russia’s Vladimir Putin with personal sanctions over Ukraine

Moscow is conducting new military drills near Ukraine and within the Crimea region, after the US put 8,500 troops on high alert

France’s Macron seeks to ease tensions by speaking to the Russian leader; Canada pulls diplomats’ families out of Ukraine

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A Russian soldier takes part in a military exercise at the Golovenki training ground in the Moscow region. Photo: Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP

Published: 5:18am, 26 Jan 2022Updated: 5:55am, 26 Jan 2022

The United States warned Moscow on Tuesday of damaging sanctions, including measures personally targeting Vladimir Putin, as Russian combat troops massing around Ukraine launched new exercises.

Tension appeared to be only increasing, with the White House saying the risk of a Russian invasion of Ukraine “remains imminent”.

Warning that would prompt “enormous consequences” and even “change the world”, President Joe Biden said he would consider adding direct sanctions on Putin to a raft of measures being drawn up.

“Yes. I would see that,” Biden said when asked by reporters in Washington about targeting Putin, whom opponents have long accused of holding gigantic, secret wealth.

A UK military instructor trains Ukrainian service members to use a next-generation light anti-tank weapon supplied by Britain. Photo: Ukrainian Defence Ministry via Reuters

A senior US official laid out economic sanctions “with massive consequences” that go far beyond previous measures implemented in 2014 after Russia invaded Ukraine’s Crimea region, warning that “the gradualism of the past is out”.

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