U.S. plans sanctions against Russia over Alexei Navalny's death

Feb. 20 (UPI) -- The United States plans "major sanctions" against Russia on Friday in response to the circumstances surrounding the death of Russian political opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday that "whatever story the Russian government decides to tell the world," it is clear to the rest of the world that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his government "are responsible for Mr. Navalny's death."

U.S. President Joe Biden said Monday he was considering new political sanctions against Russia.

Kirby did not give details on the planned sanctions, but said they will be "designed to hold Mr. Putin accountable for now two years of war in Ukraine, but also specifically supplemented with additional sanctions regarding Mr. Navalny's death."

Saturday will mark two years since Russia invaded Ukraine.

Kirby called for Congress to pass the bipartisan national security supplemental bill that contains aid for Ukraine and which is stalled in the Republican-controlled U.S. House.

Navalny's death comes after Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin's -- another Putin opposition figure at the time -- mysterious death in an airplane crash in August.

On Tuesday, the French government said it had summoned Russia's ambassador in Paris to call for an investigation into Navalny's death.

The European Union has also vowed to take steps against Russia consistent with the United States.

"The EU will spare no efforts to hold Russia's political leadership and authorities to account, in close coordination with our partners, and impose further costs for their actions, including through sanctions," Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative, said Monday.