US - Russia Relations: Biden Threatens Putin With 'Substantial' Economic Sanctions If Ukraine Is Attacked

President Joe Biden is prepared to impose “substantial” economic sanctions on Russia if President Vladimir Putin decides to invade Ukraine for the second time since 2014, a senior administration official told reporters.

The official reportedly had intense discussions with European allies about what to do if Russia decides to militarily escalate with Ukraine and that imposing massive economic countermeasures would cause “severe economic harm” to the Russian economy.

The official declined to say if the U.S. would take military action if Russia decided to invade.

“We’ve seen this playbook before in 2014, when Russia last invaded Ukraine. Then, as of now, they significantly increased combat forces along the border. Then, as now, they intensified disinformation to paint Ukraine as the aggressor to justify pre-planned military action,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Blinken noted that the U.S. is prepared to handle any scenario involving Russia and Ukraine. The Kremlin is dismissing suggestions about invading Ukraine and defends its right to deploy troops in its own country.

Biden is scheduled to have a video call with Putin on Tuesday discussing what the U.S. plans to do if Putin invades Ukraine, and attempt to lay out a diplomatic plan going forward.

In June, Biden and Putin met in a short summit in Geneva that was described as constructive and amicable.