The US could hit Putin with sanctions, says State Department

The US State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki, asked whether the US was considering the possibility of hitting Putin personally with sanctions, said Monday: ” Yes. It is important to lay out consequences. The US is able to sanction people, companies and sectors. The goal is not sanctions. The goal is de-escalation." She then added: ”A range of officials is under consideration. Plenty to sanction before we would discuss President Putin.” The US spokeswoman posted this statement in answer to Russian radio station Ekho Moskcy in an interview on Twitter.