US announces major sanctions on 2 years of Russia's conflict with Ukraine

The US Treasury Department targeted nearly 300 individuals and entities, while the US State Department targeted more than 250 individuals and entities and the US Commerce Department added more than 90 companies to the Entity List.

US President Joe Biden. Photo: Reuters

Specifically, the sanctions target Russia's Mir payment system, financial institutions, military industrial facilities, energy production and other sectors of the country.

Responding to the sanctions, Russia's Ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, said: "Doesn't Washington realize that sanctions won't bring us down?"

The US and its allies have imposed sanctions on thousands of Russian targets since the conflict between Moscow and Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. The European Union, the UK and Canada also took action against Russia on Friday.

Yet Russia's $2.2 trillion export-driven economy has withstood unprecedented sanctions far better than the West had anticipated.

In the new sanctions, the US also imposed sanctions on Russia's leading oil tanker group, Sovcomflot, accusing the group of being involved in violating the G7 price cap on Russian oil. It also targeted 14 other crude oil tankers.

The sanctions also target more than a dozen Russian banks, investment firms, venture capital funds and fintech companies.

The US is also targeting Russia’s future energy production and exports, taking further aim at the Arctic LNG 2 project in Siberia. In November, Washington imposed sanctions on a major entity involved in the project.

Meanwhile, the US State Department has targeted Russian shipbuilder Zvezda, which is reportedly involved in building up to 15 dedicated LNG carriers intended to be used to support LNG 2 exports in the Arctic.

The US also imposed sanctions on entities based in China, Türkiye, the UAE, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein and elsewhere for failing to comply with Western sanctions against Russia and for other issues.

A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, called the sanctions on Chinese companies “a typical move of economic coercion, unilateralism and bullying” by the United States.

Huy Hoang (according to Reuters, AP, CNN)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/my-cong-bo-lenh-trung-phat-khong-lo-nhan-dip-2-nam-nga-xung-dot-voi-ukraine-post285591.html