The US imposes new sanctions on Russia; Britain summons Russian ambassador / Article / LSM.lv

The US announced on Thursday new sanctions against Russia in connection with cyber attacks and other hostile actions. The Joe Biden administration has taken such a step in response to both Russia’s interference in last year’s US presidential election and the occupation of Crimea.

Sanctions were targeted at 32 individuals and legal entities, and ten Russian diplomats were expelled from the United States. Five of them are employees of Russia’s secret services, the White House reports.

The US leadership has also decided to take several other steps against Russia. Among other things, US financial institutions will be banned from buying Russian bonds.

The White House’s response to the Kremlin

It is the White House’s response to Russia’s disinformation campaigns and other activities aimed at discrediting the US electoral system, as well as the possible offer of compensation in Afghanistan for the killing of US soldiers.

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has previously highlighted a Russian hacker attack on the US government’s SolarWinds computer system for espionage purposes.

“As soon as President Biden took office, he asked intelligence to assess the extent of the attack. He also asked the intelligence services to provide additional information to identify those behind the attack. The previous administration has said that the attack is most likely to have come from Russia. But we believe we can go one step further. “

Punishment for the occupation of Crimea

The US Treasury Department has imposed restrictions on 16 institutions and 16 others involved in attempts to influence the election. Americans will be banned from buying Russian securities.

Several more people and institutions are on the sanctions list in connection with the occupation of Crimea. The US government’s statement also calls on Russia to immediately stop increasing troops at Ukraine’s borders and in Crimea.

Interestingly, the White House’s statement was distributed only a day after Biden’s telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the US president offered to hold a meeting in neutral territory.

The ruble has fallen

Russian President’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov has told the media that sanctions will prevent such a meeting.

“When it comes to sanctions, our approach remains the same: we condemn any attempt at sanctions and consider them illegal. In any case, there is a principle of reciprocity that will allow us to best serve our interests.

Of course, I would not like to act in principle in our relationship – one step forward, two backwards. It is clear that sanctions will not help to arrange a meeting. “

Following the announcement of US sanctions, the Russian ruble has also depreciated against the US dollar.

Britain summons the Russian ambassador

Britain said on Thursday that it had summoned the Russian ambassador to express serious concern about Moscow’s repeated hostile activities.

According to the Foreign Ministry, these are “cyber-attacks, interference in the democratic process and the concentration of military forces alongside Ukraine and the illegally annexed Crimea”.

The ambassador was summoned on the same day the United States announced new sanctions and the expulsion of ten Russian diplomats in response to the Kremlin’s interference in the US election, the widespread cyber-attack and other hostile activities.

The United Kingdom Government stated that it had “clearly stated its support for the steps announced by the United Kingdom [ASV] the president [Džo] Biden “, when the Russian ambassador was invited to meet with Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Philip Barton.

He said Britain was convinced that Russian intelligence was behind a hacker attack on the US IT company SolarWinds, which is called the most dangerous cyber attack in the history of the United States.

Barton has also expressed Britain’s concern about the concentration of the Russian army along the Ukrainian border and in annexed Crimea.

“These activities are threatening and destabilizing,” Barton said. “Russia must end its provocations and de – escalate tensions in line with its international obligations.

Poland expels three Russian diplomats

Poland on Thursday declared three Russian diplomats undesirable and expressed solidarity with the steps taken by the United States against Russia, the Polish Foreign Ministry said.

Three diplomats working at the Russian embassy in Warsaw are being expelled for violating the conditions of their diplomatic status and for actions detrimental to Poland, the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also said it expressed “full solidarity” with the steps taken by the United States against Russia on Thursday, imposing new sanctions on Moscow and expelling diplomats.

“The decisions taken jointly by the Allies are the most appropriate response to Russia’s hostile actions,” the ministry said.

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