In a significant development, President Joe Biden met with Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and their daughter, Dasha Navalnaya, in California on Thursday. Navalny, a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, tragically passed away in an Arctic penal colony after being imprisoned by the Kremlin.
The meeting in San Francisco took place just before the announcement of substantial new sanctions by the United States against Russia on Friday, coinciding with the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
Expressing condolences for the loss, President Biden stated, "Today, I met with Yulia and Dasha Navalnaya – Aleksey Navalny’s loved ones – to express my condolences for their devastating loss. Aleksey’s legacy of courage will live on in Yulia and Dasha, and the countless people across Russia fighting for democracy and human rights."
Blaming Putin for Navalny's death, Biden asserted, "There is no doubt that the death of Navalny is a consequence of something Putin and his thugs did."
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Biden emphasized, "This morning I had the honor of meeting with Alexey Nalvany’s wife and daughter. We are going to announce sanctions against Putin, who is responsible for his death, tomorrow. We are not letting up."
The White House highlighted President Biden's admiration for Navalny's courage and commitment to fighting corruption, advocating for a free and democratic Russia where the rule of law applies equally to everyone. The administration pledged to announce major new sanctions against Russia in response to Navalny's death, Russia's repression, aggression, and its ongoing illegal war in Ukraine.
The Treasury Department is set to impose over 500 new sanctions on Russia, marking the largest single tranche of penalties since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While some sanctions will target those responsible for Navalny's death, most will aim at "Putin’s war machine" and address gaps in existing sanctions.
Yulia Navalnaya, who had previously avoided the political spotlight, published a video address on Monday, vowing to continue her late husband's political work and urging Russians to unite. She expressed her determination to build a free Russia and protect her two children from the repercussions of Navalny's political activism.
The Kremlin has consistently denied any involvement in Navalny's death, with President Putin dismissing President Biden's recent comments as "rude." The ongoing developments underscore the escalating tensions between the United States and Russia, with the Biden administration actively pursuing sanctions in response to Russia's actions.