The US with new sanctions against Russia, targets over 500 individuals and entities

2024-02-23 20:23:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The US with new sanctions against Russia, targets over 500 individuals and

The United States announced on Friday the imposition of sweeping new sanctions against Russia, on the eve of the second anniversary of Moscow's attack on Kiev. The new measures, which come as part of Washington's efforts to increase pressure on the Kremlin, target over 500 individuals and entities.

The measures aim to hit Russia's national card payment system known as Mir, Russian financial institutions, its military-industrial base, individuals and companies that have evaded US sanctions against Russia, the energy sector and other areas.

The sanctions also include officials who played a role in the imprisonment and death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died last week in an Arctic prison. The US State Department has imposed sanctions on three officials of the Federal Prison Service in Russia that it accused of having links to the death of dissident Navanly, including the deputy director of the institution, who is said to have instructed prison staff to exercise harsh treatment against critic of the Kremlin.

President Biden directly blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

In a speech to US governors at the White House, he referred to a meeting he had with Mr Navalny's wife and daughter on Thursday in San Francisco, saying he assured them that "his legacy will live on around the world and that The United States will continue to work to make Putin pay a price for his aggression abroad and oppression at home."

"Kiev is still standing, Ukraine is still free and the people of Ukraine remain steadfast and invincible," President Biden said further during his speech where he also spoke about the latest US sanctions against Russia, the people's resilience Ukrainians and American support for Kiev.

He added that Washington should continue support for Ukraine, which is facing severe ammunition shortages while US military aid has been blocked in Congress for months.

The US Treasury Department targeted nearly 300 individuals and entities, the US State Department hit over 250, while the Commerce Department added over 90 companies to the list of sanctioned companies.

The decision expands the list of sanctions from last year, when the United States imposed measures on more than 200 individuals and entities, while the Commerce Department targeted 90 companies on the first anniversary of the war.

Friday's sanctions from the United States come in coordination with those of European Union member states and Britain. These are the latest of thousands of measures taken by the United States and its allies, following Russia's attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022, a war that has killed tens of thousands of people and destroyed cities.

Russia's export-focused economy has proven more resilient to unprecedented sanctions than anticipated.

President Biden's administration has exhausted money previously approved for Ukraine, and a request for additional funding has stalled in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

"It is vital that Congress moves and joins with our allies around the world to give Ukraine the tools to defend itself and its freedom against Putin's barbaric attack," said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen./ VOA