US sanctions Russia over ‘annexing’ Ukraine regions

Russian soldiers

Russian soldiers patrol at the Mariupol drama theatre on April 12, 2022. PHOTO | ALEXANDER NEMENOV | AFP

The US slapped new sanctions on Russia on Friday, following Moscow's formal recognition earlier in the day of four Ukrainian regions as Russian territory.

President Joe Biden said in a statement that the United States “will rally the international community to both denounce these moves and to hold Russia accountable,” adding that Washington “will continue to provide Ukraine with the equipment it needs to defend itself.”