The United States of America plans to recognize Russia as an "aggressor country". The corresponding bill was prepared by the White House together with the Congress.
This is reported by the American publication The Hill.
According to the media, if this bill is passed, US President Joe Biden will be able to impose sanctions on any person from Russia responsible for or involved in aggression.
It is noted that this status has not previously been applied to any country.
"This would isolate Moscow at the international level and force the US to impose restrictions on countries cooperating with the Kremlin," the report said.
A version of the draft text obtained by The Hill says that after the measure is enacted, the US president can recognize Russia as an "aggressor state" and has the authority to "designate any foreign country as an aggressor state" if the president determines that participation "in acts of aggression against Ukraine".
However, the publication also draws attention to the fact that it is about recognition as an "aggressor state", and not as a "sponsor of terrorism", as requested by the Ukrainian authorities.
"Ukrainian officials told The Hill that the ``aggressor state'' status does not meet their requests to designate Russia as a ``terrorist state,'' but they support the measure as a way to describe Russia as committing acts of terrorism and may generally support the introduction a separate term, if it provides additional tools for punishing the aggressor states," the publication adds.