With further sanctions, stricter export regulations and tariff increases, the US government wants to further turn off the money supply to Russia to finance its war against Ukraine.
The new package of measures includes sanctions against more than 200 people who are citizens of Russia or countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East that support Russia’s warmongering.
A dozen Russian financial institutions, Russian officials and individuals operating illegitimately in Ukraine would also be targeted, the White House said on Friday, the anniversary of Russia’s war of aggression.
Other sanctions targeted actors with ties to Russia’s defense and technology industries, “including those responsible for stockpiling Russian inventories of sanctioned items or enabling sanctions circumvention,” it said.
Stricter export regulations should prevent companies from Russia or other countries from helping to circumvent existing sanctions and replenish Russia’s military stocks.
USA imposes new import tariffs
The almost 90 listed companies will no longer be able to purchase certain items – semiconductors, for example – that were manufactured in the USA or abroad using US technology.
The measures also target Russia’s future energy capacity in such a way that current production will not be affected in order to minimize disruption to the market, it said. The same applies to Russia’s metal and mining sector.
At the same time, import duties for certain Russian goods are to be increased. It is again about withdrawing international trade privileges from Russia.
According to the White House, this should on the one hand take away sources of income from the Kremlin and on the other hand reduce the USA’s dependency on Russia.
Washington again assured Ukraine of its security and economic support as well as the reconstruction of its energy infrastructure.
The package to help Ukraine prepare for a spring offensive included more ammunition for the Himar mobile artillery missile systems and various drones, the Defense Ministry said on Friday. The F-16 fighter jets required by Ukraine are not included.
All measures were aimed at holding Russia accountable for its war of aggression. (dpa)
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