Foreign
By Kennedy Nnamani
THE United States has announced further severe costs imposed on the Russian Federation in response to President Putin’s war in Ukraine. Antony J. Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, made this known in a press statement signed yesterday.
According to the Secretary, in efforts to shut down the Kremlin’s sanctions evasion networks, which play an important role in the Russian Federation’s ability to continue (what he called) “its unconscionable war on the citizens of Ukraine”, the United States is targeting entities and individuals in continuation to the earlier designations of individuals and companies in Russia’s defense-industrial base that are directly supporting Putin’s war machine.
The sanctions include designation of 10 individuals and 17 entities involved in sanctions evasion networks to procure western technology. This is to further impede Russia’s access to western technology and the international financial system.
“We will continue to target President Putin’s war machine with sanctions from every angle, until this senseless war of choice is over,” Blinken said.
Also the U.S is designating 3 individuals for their involvement in malicious cyber activities, one of whom had been indicted by the Department of Justice last week.
Secretary Blinken also reassured that he is consulting with the Department of the Treasury to expand these sanctions to include the aerospace, marine, and electronics sectors of the Russian Federation economy.
“These actions demonstrate our resolve to hold the Russian Federation accountable for its aggression against Ukraine and commitment to take further actions against persons supporting evasion of the sanctions that the United States and our allies and partners have put in place,” he said.
He further noted that the U.S is committed to holding President Putin responsible for war crimes.
“We will use all authorities at our disposal to enforce sanctions, expose and identify malicious actors, and promote accountability for President Putin’s war of choice,” he added.
KN
Tags: ANTONY J. Blinken President Putin
