From Reuters:
“Biden adds sanctions to
Russian banks and businesses”
President Joe Biden unveiled
harsh new sanctions against Russia on Thursday after Moscow launched an all-out
invasion of Ukraine, imposing measures to impede Russia's ability to do
business in the world's major currencies along with sanctions against banks and
state-owned enterprises. "This is a premeditated attack," Biden told
reporters at the White House, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected
attempts by the West to engage in dialogue and had violated international law.
"Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country
will bear the consequences." Biden said the sanctions were designed to
have a long-term impact on Russia and to minimize the impact on the United
States and its allies. And he said Washington was prepared to do more. Biden
said the sanctions would limit Russia's ability to do business in dollars,
euros, pounds and yen.
Biden said NATO would meet on
Friday to map out further measures. He reiterated that the United States would
not engage in war with Russia, but that it would meet its Article 5 commitments
to defend NATO partners. Biden said this was a dangerous moment for all of
Europe, and that he had authorized troops that had been placed on standby to
deploy to Germany. "Putin's aggression against Ukraine will end up costing
Russia dearly," Biden said. "Putin will be a pariah on the
international stage." Biden met with his counterparts from the Group of
Seven allies earlier on Thursday to map out more severe measures against Russia
after Putin launched the attack. read more Biden, who spoke with Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy late on Wednesday, also convened his National
Security Council on Thursday to discuss the situation. His announcement
represented the second major tranche of sanctions against Russia since Putin
earlier this week declared two breakaway regions of Ukraine independent and
sent troops there.
The United States had warned it
would initiate waves of sanctions against Moscow if it further invaded Ukraine,
and Russia's full-on military assault launched on Thursday led to the latest
round of Western penalties. read more
Britain unveiled new measures
targeting banks, members of Putin's inner circle and the very wealthy who enjoy
high-rolling London lifestyles. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told parliament
that leaders had agreed to work together to "maximise the economic
price" Putin will pay. read more On Wednesday Washington imposed sanctions
on the company in charge of building Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, and
on Tuesday it sanctioned two large Russian financial institutions and Russian
sovereign debt along with some members of the Russian elite and their family
members. read more Biden had faced political pressure at home to impose
sanctions before Putin invaded. The White House has held open the door to diplomacy,
even agreeing in principle earlier to a summit between the president and Putin
if Russia did not invade. The president now becomes the face of the Western
response to Russian aggression at a time when he is battling low poll numbers
at home, rising inflation that could be exacerbated by the Ukraine conflict,
and looming midterm elections that could hand control of the Senate and House
of Representatives from his fellow Democrats to Republicans.
The White House has warned
Americans that the conflict could lead to higher fuel prices in the United
States, though it is taking measures to help soften that blow. U.S. officials
have been working with counterparts in other countries on a combined release of
additional oil from global strategic crude reserves, two sources said on
Thursday. read more Biden warned oil and gas companies not to
"exploit" this moment to raise prices. Members of Congress from both
parties urged the White House to move swiftly on tougher actions against
Russia, including providing military aid to Ukraine, imposing stringent
sanctions and export controls and ousting Russia from international
organizations. "This unprovoked attack has brought into sharp focus the
need to expel the current Kremlin leadership from the international community,"
said Senator Bob Menendez, Democratic chairman of the foreign relations
committee. "Today must mark a historical shift in how the world views and
deals with the despot in Moscow."
^ This is all but a slap on the
wrist. At least ban Aeroflot like the UK did. ^
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.