The United States is set to impose sanctions on over 500 individuals connected to Russia's actions in Ukraine, as conflict persists years after Moscow's invasion, according to the Treasury Department on Thursday.
The upcoming action scheduled for Friday will target "Russia, its enablers, and its war machine," as stated by a Treasury spokesperson to AFP. The official mentioned that these sanctions will be implemented by both the Treasury and State Department.
United States' Biggest Sanction Against Russia
This will be the biggest single tranche since the beginning of Putin's extended invasion of Ukraine, according to the Treasury, in relation to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022, Washington and its allies have implemented numerous sanctions aimed at impacting Moscow's income and military industry.
One of the measures taken is a price ceiling implemented by the United States and its partners to reduce Moscow's income from oil and petroleum exports.
To decrease funding for the war while maintaining supplies to the global market, a coalition consisting of the Group of Seven leading economies, the European Union, and Australia established a price limit of $60 per barrel of Russian crude.
Russia had the option to either offer discounted oil to coalition countries or focus on developing an alternative ecosystem. The coalition then revealed intentions to strengthen enforcement of the price ceiling.
The upcoming sanctions, set to be announced on Friday, are in response to the recent passing of Alexei Navalny in an Arctic prison. US President Joe Biden recently confirmed intentions to impose sanctions, stating they would target Putin for his role in the death.
On Thursday, Biden mentioned meeting privately in California with Navalny's widow and daughter. He shared with the press after meeting with Yulia and Dasha Navalnaya in San Francisco that Putin's late opponent was "a man of incredible courage."
On February 16, Russian officials declared the sudden death of Navalny, aged 47, while in custody. Following that, several European governments have also called in Russian diplomats.
Thursday saw the US government commemorating the nearing two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion by unveiling charges against a group of affluent Russians in an effort to disrupt the "flow of illegal funds" supporting Moscow's war.
Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the Justice Department's strong commitment to cutting off the funds and holding accountable those who continue to enable the war. The White House has also announced that Washington will soon implement additional sanctions on Iran due to its support for Russia's invasion.
"In response to Iran's ongoing support for Russia's brutal war, we will be imposing additional sanctions on Iran in the coming days," said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby to reporters.
He mentioned that officials are ready to take additional steps if Iran sells ballistic missiles to Russia. Ukrainian forces are facing a shortage of ammunition while battling Russian troops, as additional funding for Kyiv is currently delayed in the US Congress.
Russia Vows to Respond to New Sanctions
Meanwhile, Moscow plans to counter new impending US sanctions by bolstering its economy and improving the standards of living for its people, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated following the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting.
Russia will work with countries aiming for economic development that is not reliant on those who traditionally dominate the global economy, exploit and harm people in other nations, take their resources, and benefit at their expense, the minister stated, as per TASS.
Biden, along with other Western leaders, swiftly attributed Navalny's death to Putin. Navalny passed away in a remote Arctic penal colony last Friday. According to Biden, the death of the opposition leader was a direct result of Putin's actions, and he called on House Republicans to provide additional aid to Ukraine following the tragic event.
The Kremlin criticized Biden's remarks, with spokesman Dmitry Leskov describing Biden's comments as an attempt to portray a Hollywood cowboy. But honestly, I don't think it's possible," according to Reuters.
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