The United States is imposing more than 500 new sanctions against Russia over its ongoing war against Ukraine and the death of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny.
U.S. President Joe Biden said this in a statement ahead of the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.
“Today, I am announcing more than 500 new sanctions against Russia for its ongoing war of conquest on Ukraine and for the death of Alexei Navalny, who was a courageous anti-corruption activist and Putin’s fiercest opposition leader. These sanctions will target individuals connected to Navalny’s imprisonment as well as Russia’s financial sector, defense industrial base, procurement networks and sanctions evaders across multiple continents. They will ensure Putin pays an even steeper price for his aggression abroad and repression at home,” he said.
Biden added that the U.S. was also imposing new export restrictions on nearly 100 entities for providing backdoor support for Russia’s war machine.
“We are taking action to further reduce Russia’s energy revenues. And I’ve directed my team to strengthen support for civil society, independent media, and those who fight for democracy around the world,” he added.
Among other things, Biden noted the struggle of the brave Ukrainian people and once again called on the U.S. House of Representatives to approve the bill with assistance for Ukraine.
“Two years into this war, the people of Ukraine continue to fight with tremendous courage. But they are running out of ammunition. Ukraine needs more supplies from the United States to hold the line against Russia’s relentless attacks, which are enabled by arms and ammunition from Iran and North Korea. That’s why the House of Representatives must pass the bipartisan national security supplemental bill, before it’s too late,” he said.
“Now is the time for us to stand strong with Ukraine and stand united with our Allies and partners. Now is the time to prove that the United States stands up for freedom and bows down to no one,” Biden concluded.
On February 23, the European Union adopted a 13th package of sanctions against Russia, targeting 106 individuals and 88 legal entities.
New sanctions are OK, but I would prefer to see the loopholes plugged in the existing sanctions, like russian oil being purchased by the US through India. US chips being supplied to trash countries that pass them on to mafia land. The application of secondary sanctions would greatly help, but the West seem very reluctant to apply them, are they more worried about profits, or stopping a war that could spread?
On Tuesday there were the first hearings in the Senate about fournitures from 4 US companies found on Russian weapons or military logistics. Since the start of the war, these companies have reportedly increased the export of their production to countries known to facilitate the re-export of equipment to Moscow.
Hopefully something useful will come out of this.
That’s great to hear
My thoughts exactly, foccusser. Making existing sanctions bulletproof would be better. There is no need for more sanctions that look great on paper and that’s it.