UNITED STATES: The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russian President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and members of Russia’s Security Council on Friday (local time) in reaction to Russia’s “unjustified, unprovoked, and premeditated” invasion of Ukraine.
In an open statement, the US Treasury said that the sanctions impose significant diplomatic and economic consequences on Russia and isolate it from the global bank systems and the international community.
Putin and Lavrov, according to the statement, are directly responsible for Russia’s unprovoked and illegitimate further invasion of Ukraine, a democratic sovereign state.
Earlier in the press briefing, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki claimed that the US will sanction Putin and Lavrov in tandem with the EU.
“In addition, today the United States Department of State designated two additional Government of Russia (GoR) officials and members of Russia’s Security Council as directly responsible for the continued invasion of Ukraine: Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Sergei Shoigu, and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, First Deputy Minister of Defense, and General of the Army Valery Gerasimov,” the statement said.
Treasury has previously designated eleven members of Russia’s Security Council and will continue to impose costs on Russia’s governing class as it pursues this cruel war of choice, according to the statement.
“The Treasury Department is continuing to levy penalties against the Russian Federation and President Putin for their violent and unjustified assault on the people of Ukraine,” President Biden stated yesterday.
“Putin rejected every good faith effort made by the United States and its friends and partners to address our mutual security issues via discussion to avoid unnecessary violence and avert human suffering,” said Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen.
“We are working with our foreign allies and partners to ensure that Russia pays a high economic and diplomatic price for its continued invasion of Ukraine.”
“If necessary, we are willing to impose additional costs on Russia for its heinous actions on the global stage,” Yellen continued.
Also Read: Russia’s Vladimir Putin Has Decided to Invade Ukraine: US President Joe Biden
