The United States is ready to impose additional economic costs on Russia along with its allies if Moscow continues to annex parts of Ukrainian territory, the White House said, Reuters reported.

President Joe Biden said Russia's referendums are a false pretext for trying to annex parts of Ukraine by force, which is a blatant violation of international law, including the United Nations Charter. The U.S. will never recognize Ukrainian territory as anything other than part of Ukraine, he said.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the United States is ready to impose additional economic sanctions against Russia in step with allies if Moscow tries to annex new territories of Ukraine.