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Shortly after President Obama addressed the nation on Thursday to announce broader economic sanctions on Russian officials, Russian President Vladimir Putin turned around and did the same thing.

In addition to signing a bill to complete the annexation of Crimea, Putin announced sanctions against several top American officials, including Speaker of the House John Boehner and Arizona Senator John McCain, who responded hilariously to the announcement.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, N.J. Sen. Bob Menendez, La. Sen. Mary Landrieu, Ind. Sen. Dan Coats., White House Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes, White House Senior Advisor Dan Pfeiffer and White House Deputy National Security Advisor Caroline Atkinson were also included in Russia’s sanctions.

“The Speaker is proud to be included on a list of those willing to stand against Putin’s aggression,” said Boehner spokesman Michael Steel of the Russian sanctions against his boss.

But while American officials are poking fun at Russia’s sanctions, Obama’s measure is no laughing matter.

“Mr. Putin needs to understand that Ukrainians shouldn’t have to chose between the west and Russia,” Obama said, saying the U.S. remains “deeply concerned’ by Russian threats to Eastern and Southern Ukraine.

“Nobody should believe that this is the end of what we are prepared to do under the executive order,” a senior administration official said. “It’s only the beginning.”

This doesn’t look like it’s ending any time soon. We’ll keep you updated with any new developments in Russia/US diplomacy. Or lack thereof.

SOURCE: TIME | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty

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