Photo: Mike Smith/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty
Hillary Clintonis speaking out after Russia announced new sanctions against 13 U.S. officials, including her, amid the country’sinvasion of Ukraine.
The former U.S. Secretary of State, 74, jokingly responded to the news onTwitterTuesday, writing, “I want to thank the Russian Academy for this Lifetime Achievement Award.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that Clinton and other high-profile political figures, includingPresident Joe Bidenand Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin were sanctioned, or banned from entering the country, according toThe Hill,BBC, andCNN.
The announcement comes as Russia facesincreasing penaltiesfollowing the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan, CIA Director William Burns, White House press secretary Jen Psaki, deputy national security adviser Daleep Singh, USAID Director Samantha Power, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Adewale Adeyemo, US Export-Import Bank President Reta Jo Lewis and Hunter Biden are also included on the list, CNN reports.
Psaki said in a press briefing on Tuesday that sanctions would have little effect on the politicians.
“It won’t surprise any of you that none of us are planning tourist trips to Russia, none of us have bank accounts that we won’t be able to access, so we will forge ahead,” she said, according to CNN.
She added that she was “confident” U.S. officials “will have the ability” to have continued conversations with Russia.
Russia is expected to issue more sanctions to “top US officials, military officials, lawmakers, businessmen, experts and media people who are Russophobic or contribute to inciting hatred towards Russia and the introduction of restrictive measures,” according to CNN.
Russia’sattack on Ukrainecontinues after their forces launched a large-scale invasion on Feb. 24 — the first major land conflict in Europe in decades.
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With NATO forces massing in the region around Ukraine, various countries have also pledged aid or military support to the resistance. Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyycalled for peace talks — so far unsuccessful — while urging his country to fight back.
Putin insists Ukraine has historic ties to Russia and he is acting in the best security interests of his country. Zelenskyy vowed not to bend.
“Nobody is going to break us, we’re strong, we’re Ukrainians,“he told the European Unionin a speech in the early days of the fighting, adding, “Life will win over death. And light will win over darkness.”
source: people.com
