US impose sanctions on Russia for beginning invasion of Ukraine

Europe, News, US February 23, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. President Biden unveils sanctions in response to Russian actions in Ukraine

U.S. President Joe Biden has announced new sanctions against Russia, calling Moscow’s recognition of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent the “beginning of a Russian invasion”.

In his speech on Tuesday, Biden condemned Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin’s decision to recognise the independence of Luhansk and Donetsk and authorize the deployment of Russian troops to “maintain peace” in the regions. “This is a flagrant violation of international law and demands a firm response from the international community,” Biden said commenting on the movement of Russian troops into Ukraine’s breakaway region.

The first tranche of US sanctions would target two large financial institutions, Russian sovereign debt and Russian elites and their family members to “cut off Russia’s government from Western finance.”

Biden warned that “Russia will pay an even steeper price if it continues its aggression, including additional sanctions.” He added that the United States will continue to provide defensive assistance to Ukraine in the meantime and also continue to reinforce and reassure its NATO allies.

The United States believe there are still well over 150,000 Russian troops surrounding Ukraine as well as Russian troops, war planes and offensive missile systems in Belarus. “Russia has moved troops closer to Ukraine’s border with Russia. Russia’s naval vessels are maneuvering in the Black Sea to Ukraine’s south, including amphibious assault ships, missile cruisers, and submarines” Biden noted.

“Russia has moved supplies of blood and medical equipment into position on their border. You don’t need blood unless you plan on starting a war” Biden said in his speech.

_{This handout video grab released by the Russian Defense Ministry shows combat crews of the S-400 air defense system taking up combat duty during joint exercises of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus as part of an inspection of the Union State’s Response Force. (Image Credit: AFP/Russian Defense Ministry)}

Blinken cancels meeting with Russian foreign minister

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov scheduled for later this week, saying the Kremlin’s moves against Ukraine demonstrated that it is not “serious” about diplomacy.

“It does not make sense to go forward with that meeting at this time,” Blinken said. However, the State Department would continue to try to avert “an even worse” situation, such as an “all-out assault of Ukraine,” including major cities and the capital of Kyiv.

Key developments

Russian President Putin has ordered troops into two separatist regions, Luhansk and Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine, after recognising them as independent states.
All 27 EU member states agreed on a range of sanctions which they said will hurt Russia.
UK, Canada, Japan and Australia announced coordinated sanctions against Russia including travel bans, freezing assets and bank accounts.
Germany halted the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, designed to double the flow of Russian gas direct to Germany, after Russia’s latest moves in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Zelensky announced that he was calling up the country’s military reservists after Russian lawmakers voted to give President Putin the authority to send troops into eastern Ukraine.