WASHINGTON – President Biden told reporters Monday he is weighing additional sanctions against Russia over the death of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny.
“We already have sanctions, but we are considering additional sanctions,” said Biden as he returned to the White House from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
“Do you think Navalny’s death makes any difference in nudging House Republicans to take up Ukraine aid? They are on vacation right now,” he added.
It comes after Biden called out the GOP for not taking up the $95 billion foreign aid bill passed by the Senate, which would provide $60 billion in funding for Ukraine in their fight against Russia.
Navalny’s death was reported Friday by Russian prison authorities, who said the dissident “felt unwell” after going for a walk and “almost immediately” lost consciousness.
His widow Yulia Navalnaya, who lives in exile outside Russia, accused the Kremlin of poisoning her husband, alleging that Russian authorities were delaying handing over his body to allow for traces of the poison to disappear.
The U.S. has already imposed several rounds of punishing sanctions against Russian officials, institutions and businesses since its invasion of Ukraine two years ago.
“They’re making a big mistake by not responding,” said Biden. “The way they’re walking away from the threat of Russia, the way they are walking away from NATO.”
It will be a key issue in the upcoming 2024 election with the South Carolina Republican Primary just five days away.
The state’s former Governor Nikki Haley recently called out former Trump for staying silent on the death of Navalny.
“Trump is siding with a thug where half a million (people) have been wounded or murdered because Putin invaded Ukraine,” Haley said.
Biden has also used Navalny’s death to underscore the threat posed by Russia and has urged Congress to approve more funding to Ukraine. But Mr. Biden said Monday he wasn’t sure if the death would convince House Republicans to hold a vote on more Ukraine aid.
“I hope so, but I’m not sure anything’s going to change their minds,” he said, adding that Republicans are “making a big mistake not responding.”
Trump did mention Navalny on social media Monday, but focused the post on the U.S, calling the elections rigged and “grossly unfair courtroom decisions.” after a New York judge held him liable for fraud Friday and ordered him to pay $355 million as another judge set his first of four criminal trials for March 25 during the presidential primary season.