Andrea Shalal, Steve Holland

(Reuters) – The White House announced Friday that sanctions would be imposed on Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Sergei Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Russia. This is as Washington tries to increase pressure on Moscow after Russia invaded Ukraine.

It was a rare move by the U.S. to impose sanctions against a head state, although it is not unusual. This would be just days after Russian forces invaded Ukraine. They attacked by sea and land in what has been described as the most serious attack on one country in Europe since World War Two.

Jen Psaki, spokesperson for the White House, stated that concerted action to impose sanctions against Putin sends an important message. She also said that U.S. President Joe Biden called President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss how they could reach out to Putin and Lavrov.

On Friday, the UK and EU agreed to block any European assets belonging to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to RIA news agency, a Russian spokeswoman for the foreign ministry stated that sanctions against Putin and Lavrov are a sign of “absolute incompetence” by the West when it comes foreign policy.

The United States used to impose sanctions against heads of state in the past on Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, Syria’s Basharal-Assad and other countries.

Putin called for Ukraine’s military leaders to be overthrown and to negotiate peace. Kyiv authorities asked citizens to defend Kyiv from the Russian attack its mayor claimed had begun.

Washington would use sanctions to target Putin as the latest punishment in response to Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine.

The United States placed sanctions Thursday on Russia’s top two banks as well as members of its elite.

This followed Wednesday’s action that officially designated the company responsible for building Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Tuesday’s actions also target elites and banks in Russia.

Edward Fishman (an Atlantic Council fellow) said that the Russian sanctions were symbolic but targeting Putin was an appropriate step for America and its partners.

Fishman stated that the message sends “a strong message of solidarity to Ukrainians under fire right now.”