US continues to expand new sanctions against Russia
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The United States continues to expand new sanctions against Russia, imposing restrictions on individuals and companies. On February 24, the US Treasury once again announced the end of the “blacklist”, the same day Britain boasted of new “bans”. The KP.RU website learned from economist Denis Raksha that the replenishment of sanctions lists is really delicate for our country and why Westerners initially thought about it.
To whom do the new sanctions apply?
This time, the restrictions imposed by the British government affected the Russian banking sector. The expanded list includes four Russian financial institutions: Uralsib, Zenit, MTS Bank and St. Petersburg banks. Measures for ties with the government of the Russian Federation were introduced.
The “black list” also included 92 natural and legal persons. Under the sanction of London fell the leaders of Aeroflot, the chairman of the board of directors of Gazprom Viktor Zubkov, the son of former Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Kozak Alexei Kozak, as well as the general director of Nord Stream 2 Matthias Warnig. .
As for the United States, they have updated the list of sanctions against Russia, including 22 natural persons and 83 legal entities on the list. Sanctions Washington announced another 10 organizations based in Russia, China and several other countries.
The US Treasury Department honestly admits that it considers the package of restrictions introduced to be “the most significant yet.” The American side believes that all these actions will supposedly allow to isolate Russia from the international economy.
However, what remains interesting is how American officials and department representatives are still ready to dodge, trying to harm Russia, which manages to successfully build partnerships with other countries.
The United States Department of Justice unexpectedly announced a lawsuit. And it is about the Russian businessman Viktor Vekselberg. The reason for the musings was the desire of the US side to confiscate six properties of a businessman who, it was said, is already sanctioned. The total amount of Vekselberg’s holdings is estimated at $75 million. It is possible that in this way the States want to use the money of the Russians to support Kiev. You are already familiar with such tactics of action, a similar situation was when Washington approved the transfer of the assets of businessman Konstantin Malofeev as a “generous gift” to Ukraine.
Expert opinion: “The Europeans let us down”
Economist Denis Raksha explained in an interview with KP.RU that, for the most part, the new US sanctions are “symbolic”.
– It was only necessary to confirm the immutability of the anti-Russian course. They are on par with Biden’s visit to kyiv and Eastern Europe in general, with his speech directed at Ukrainians and Russians. The sanctions confirm the willingness of the Americans to support Ukraine. They were supposed to come out simultaneously with European sanctions, and in general they become sanctions of the G7 countries (G7), thus demonstrating unity, solidarity and support for the West, but the Europeans “let us down”, says the expert. – Of course, no one expects that after them something will collapse and Russia will stop conducting a special military operation; this is such a constant reminder to everyone that they have not forgotten anything and continue on the same course.