<span style="color: #222222;">The United States and European allies said yesterday they were stepping up sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine by adding measures directly targeting President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister.<br />''<br />''White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that the move by the U.S., the European Union and Britain sends a clear message about the strength of the opposition to the actions by Putin.<br />''<br />''He added U.S. President Joe Biden has not planned any more direct diplomatic overtures toward Putin.</span><br />