Russia "will pay a heavy price".. Washington will retaliate against Putin by imposing new sanctions

The White House said, today, Friday, that Russia will pay a heavy and immediate price.

 The American Treasury and Foreign Ministries announced, today Friday, new sanctions on Russia, after it annexed four Ukrainian regions.

 The sanctions include political officials and military leaders in Russia and Belarus, as well as the governor of the Russian Central Bank and his deputy and relatives of members of the Russian National Security Council

The American president, Joe Biden, said that Russia violates international law and violates the United Nations Charter and shows its contempt for peaceful countries everywhere.

He added: that Washington will continue to support Ukraine, until it regains its control over the territories annexed by Russia.

For his part, the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, said that Washington categorically rejects the fake referendums and Russia's fraudulent attempt to change the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine.

He added: "We will hold to account the G7 countries, any entity, individual or country that provides political or economic support for the Russian steps."