(CNN) The United States accused Russia of recruiting current and former Ukrainian government officials to attempt to take control of Ukraine's government as it unveiled new sanctions on Thursday. Russia recruits Ukrainian officials in top positions to gain access to sensitive information, threaten Ukraine's sovereignty and then leverage these officials to instigate unrest ahead of a potential Russian invasion, according to Treasury. Earlier this week, Blinken visited Ukraine where Ukrainian officials thanked him for US security assistance. Russia has amassed about 100,000 troops to the border it shares with Ukraine, which Blinken said Wednesday Russia could double in "relatively short order." Biden on Wednesday acknowledged disunity within NATO over how to respond to a "minor incursion" from Russia, an admission that stunned and shocked Ukrainian officials in Kyiv.

Source: CNN January 21, 2022 00:32 UTC