White House to announce fresh sanctions on Russia over Ukraine

FILE PHOTO: A journalist reports on the ongoing situation in Ukraine as U.S. President Joe Biden meets with his national security team at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 21, 2022. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will announce potentially severe new sanctions and export controls against Russia on Tuesday in response to Moscow's decision to recognize two breakaway regions of Ukraine as independent and send troops there.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday told Russia's defense ministry to deploy forces into the two regions to "keep the peace," defying Western warnings that such a step would be illegal and wreck peace negotiations.