The US announces fresh sanctions on Russia over Ukraine invasion

Washington : The United States of America has announced fresh sanctions on 1000 Russians and firms connected to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed treaties to absorb occupied regions of Ukraine in defiance of international law.

According to a media report, the sanctions have been imposed on about 57 companies and over 900 people with a restriction on their visas.

Meanwhile, Ukraine President  Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that his nation is making an accelerated bid to join the NATO military alliance to end the war with Russia.

Putin has also warned that Russia is not giving up on the absorbed regions - the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions - and would protect them as a part of its sovereign territory.

Both the houses of the Russian parliament are scheduled to meet next week and approve the treaties for the regions to join Russia.