Biden signs executive order barring Americans from making investments in Donetsk and Luhansk

News, US February 22, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. President Joseph Biden signed an executive order on February 21 prohibiting trade and investment between Americans and the two independent regions of Donetsk (DNR) and Luhansk (LNR), the White House said.

According to the White House release, “President Putin’s action contradicts Russia’s commitments under the Minsk agreements, refutes Russia’s claimed commitment to diplomacy, and undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

“We are continuing to closely consult with Ukraine and with Allies and partners on next steps and urge Russia to immediately deescalate,” the statement added.

The Executive Order prohibits new investment in the so-called DNR or LNR regions of Ukraine by a United States person, the importation into the U.S., directly or indirectly, of any goods, services, or technology from the DNR or LNR regions. In addition, the Executive Order also prohibits the exportation, reexportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States, or by a United States person, wherever located, of any goods, services, or technology to the DNR or LNR regions of Ukraine, and any approval, financing, facilitation, or guarantee by a United States person, wherever located, of a transaction by a foreign person where the transaction by that foreign person would be covered by these prohibitions if performed by a United States person or within the United States.

According to the statement, “The United States will not hesitate to use its authorities to target those supporting efforts to undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This authority provides the United States with the flexibility to impose similar restrictions on any other regions of Ukraine as appropriate.”

*^{White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a press briefing at the White House on October 18, 2021, in Washington, DC. (Image Credit: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)}*

The White House press secretary Jen Psaki wrote in a statement, “To be clear: these measures are separate from and would be in addition to the swift and severe economic measures we have been preparing in coordination with allies and partners should Russia further invade Ukraine.”

The move comes after Russia announced on February 21 that Moscow recognized the self-proclaimed republics and attacked the Ukrainian government and the United States in a speech, as well as accused the West of ignoring Russia’s main security concerns.

The President of the Russian Federation Putin signed decrees to recognize two self-proclaimed regions in eastern Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk, which allows Russia to build military bases in two of Ukraine’s breakaway regions.

The leaders of Russia and the two independent regions also expressed their commitment to defend each other and signed agreements on military cooperation and on recognition of each other’s borders.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield backed Ukraine’s call for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

“Today, Russia announced that it will recognize as “independent states” parts of the sovereign territory of Ukraine in its Donbas region, which is currently controlled by Russia’s proxies. This is an unprovoked violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” she said in a statement.

U.S. President Biden also held phone talks with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy for about 40 minutes on February 21. During the phone call, Biden condemned Putin’s decision to recognize the independence of the breakaway region, and reiterated that the U.S. would respond swiftly to further Russian aggression against Ukraine.

After the phone call with the Ukrainian president, Biden also held phone talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Schultz about a coordinated response.