The United States is set to unveil a significant package of sanctions against Russia on Friday, in response to the death of political opposition leader Alexei Navalny. This move also serves as retaliation for the two-year war initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin against Ukraine, as announced by President Joe Biden on Tuesday. Details of the sanctions were not disclosed by Biden but are expected to be revealed on Friday, marking the eve of the second anniversary of Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

The White House's national security spokesperson, John Kirby, stated that the sanctions aim to hold Russia accountable for Navalny's fate and its actions during the conflict in Ukraine. World leaders including Biden have expressed outrage over Navalny's death in a penal colony, with Biden directly attributing the responsibility to Putin. Navalny's mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, has pleaded with Putin to release her son's body for a proper burial, while Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has vowed to continue his political legacy.

The US has already imposed various sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24th February 2022. Kirby emphasized that regardless of the narrative presented by the Russian government, Putin and his administration bear responsibility for Navalny's demise. Efforts by the US embassy in Moscow to ascertain more details about Navalny's death have been challenging, with doubts raised over Russian transparency regarding the case.

President Biden unequivocally stated last week that Navalny's death was a direct consequence of actions carried out by Putin and his associates. With mounting pressure and demands for accountability, the forthcoming sanctions are anticipated to further strain the already tense relations between the US and Russia.