The United States may further expand sanctions against Russia, U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser for International Economics Daleep Singh said in an interview with CBS News.
“We can broaden our sanctions. So – take the measures, take the sanctions we’ve already applied, apply them in more targets. Apply them to more sectors. More banks, more sectors that we haven’t touched,” Singh said.
According to him, the sanctions may affect “the commanding heights of the Russian economy.” “It’s mostly about oil and gas, but there are other sectors too,” he said.
Speaking about the possibility of lifting sanctions against Russia, Singh stressed that “we’re nowhere near that point.”
He believes that “the first thing he has to do is to stop – a reckless and barbaric attack on the civilians of Ukraine. That’s not happening.”
Following the European Union, the Swiss authorities have announced the inclusion of an additional number of individuals and organizations in their sanctions lists in connection with the Russian operation in Ukraine. “A further 197 individuals are now subject to financial sanctions and travel restrictions and 9 additional entities are now subject to financial sanctions,” the Swiss government said in a statement.
“Switzerland’s list of sanctions now fully mirrors that of the EU,” it said.
The Russian individuals sanctioned by Switzerland include businessmen Roman Abramovich, Andrei Melnichenko, Alexander Vinokurov, Vadim Moshkovich, Dmitry Pumpyansky and his son Alexander, as well as Dmitry Mazepin and his son Nikita.
The Swiss sanctions also apply to Rostelecom president Mikhail Oseyevsky, entrepreneurs and top managers Andrei Guryev, Dmitry Konov and Mikhail Poluboyarinov, and Channel One general director Konstantin Ernst.
The Russian companies sanctioned by Switzerland are Rosneft Aero, Rosoboronexport, JSC NPO High-Precision Systems, Kurganmashzavod, JSC Russian Helicopters, the United Aircraft Corporation, the United Shipbuilding Corporation, Uralvagonzavod, and JSC Zelenodolsk Plant named after A.M. Gorky.
The approved fourth package of sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine situation was published in the Official Journal of the European Union and entered into force on Tuesday.
“This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,” the journal said.
As previously reported, renewed EU sanctions on Russia include a ban on investment in Russia’s energy sector, but exceptions are made for the peaceful nuclear industry and transportation of energy resources to the EU.
The Australian authorities have decided to soon impose a ban on the import of oil, gas, coal and oil products from Russia, The Guardian reports on Friday, citing a representative of the Australian Foreign Ministry.
“This decision does not threaten Australia’s energy security. Australia has diversified and sustainable oil supply chains and adequate oil reserves thanks to the government’s comprehensive energy security policy,” he said.
The ban will take effect no earlier than in 45 days. In this regard, the representative of the ministry specified for The Guardian, ships carrying already paid energy carriers from the Russian Federation will be able to arrive for shipment in Australian ports.
He noted that Australia does not import these goods from Russia in significant volumes. At the same time, the diplomat expressed the opinion that since energy resources are the largest source of export earnings to the Russian Federation, restrictions on their acquisition by Australia and its allies will reduce Moscow’s ability to operate in Ukraine.
U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed a decree banning the import of oil, oil products, as well as liquefied natural gas and coal from Russia, which led to another jump in prices on the global energy market.
The British authorities also announced their intention to stop buying Russian oil within the next few months.
Meanwhile, the Financial Times said that the U.S. authorities are actively looking for new energy supplies after the refusal to import Russian oil, trying to prevent further growth in fuel prices at American gas stations.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky by decree put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) to impose personal economic sanctions against Russian enterprises and organizations, the presidential press service said. The decision to impose sanctions against Russian enterprises, companies, organizations was made by the NSDC on December 30, 2021. Zelensky on January 21, by decree No.19, put into effect the NSDC decision.
As noted, some 24 enterprises fell under the sanctions. They have the same restrictions. In particular, this is the freezing of assets, the restriction of trade operations, the prevention of the withdrawal of capital from Ukraine, suspension of the fulfillment of economic and financial obligations, cancellation or suspension of licenses and permits, the receipt (availability) of which is a condition for the implementation of a certain type of activity.
The list included such enterprises as JSC Lenpromtransproekt, JSC Insurance Business Group, Gas JSC Industry Insurance Company, JSC Grand Service Express Transport Company, JSC Giproshakht, JSC Russian Institute of Urban Planning and Investment Development “Giprogor,” COOP HIMMELB(L)AU Wolf D. Prix & Partner ZT GmbH, ALARM911 Neva LLC, Geozemstroy LLC, Krymsetenergoproekt LLC, Research Institute of Diagnostics LLC, Research Institute of Perspective Urban Planning LLC, Nivad LLC, SIRIUS Project LLC, Transproekt LLC, Tyus Management Group LLC, Transstroy Holding Company LLC, Federal Target Program”Modernization of the Russian Transport System of Russia,” the Federal State Enterprise “Departmental storage of railway transport of the Russian Federation,” Federal State Enterprise “Departmental Security Department of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation,” Fund for Social and Cultural Projects “National Cultural Heritage,” Autonomous NGO for the Promotion of Activities “Russian Seasons,” State Autonomous Institution of the City of Sevastopol “Development Center tourism.”
Ukraine has imposed sanctions against the Austrian architectural bureau “Coop Himmelb(l)au,” which developed the project for an opera house in Sevastopol, temporarily occupied by Russia.
The decree on the entry into force of the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of December 30, 2021 was signed by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on January 21.
Personal sanctions have been imposed against founder and CEO of the architectural office Wolf Prix, and its five managers and employees (citizens of Austria).
Assets are blocked for five years, the right to use and dispose of their property is temporarily restricted. It also provides for a denial of visas, the application of other prohibitions on entry into the territory of Ukraine, a ban on participation in privatization, lease of state property.
Another decree put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council, which, in particular, imposed sanctions against the Russian Artemy Lebedev.
In addition, personal sanctions have been imposed on Yury Chaika, authorized representative of the Russian President in the North Caucasus Federal District.
