Intelligence agencies have previously charged that Russia was using disinformation to try to interfere in the election. The new steps show the depth of US concerns and signal legal actions against those suspected of being involved.
US President Joe Biden said the measures aim to ensure his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin "pays an even steeper price for his aggression abroad and repression at home."
Navalny, a prominent critic of Putin, died suddenly on Friday after a walk at the "Polar Wolf" penal colony above the Arctic Circle. His death sparked international outrage and his wife Yulia has vowed to continue her husband's work and avenge his "murder".
Putin, the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant related to the war in Ukraine, did not travel to Johannesburg for the summit of the BRICS group of emerging economies.
In addition to sanctions aimed at Putin’s adult daughters, Mariya Putina and Katerina Tikhonova, the U.S. is targeting Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin; the wife and children of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov; and members of Russia’s Security Council, including Dmitry Medvedev, a former president and prime minister.
China says it is not taking sides in the conflict but it has declared a “no limits” partnership with Russia and refuses to condemn the invasion.
The U.S. will be acting alone, but in close consultation with European allies, who are more dependent on Russian energy supplies.
Russia started its military offensive against Ukraine on February 24. Western nations, including the US, have imposed major economic and other sanctions on Russia following the offensive.
Britain has earlier slapped sanctions on Russian banks, companies, and oligarchs in response to the invasion, and agreed with the European Union and the U.S. to block some Russian banks from the SWIFT global financial messaging system.
If fully carried out as planned, the measures will severely damage the Russian economy and markedly constrain its ability to import and export goods.
Even if Beijing wanted to, its ability to support President Vladimir Putin by importing more Russian gas and other goods is limited.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine caused a barrage of new financial sanctions Thursday. The sanctions are meant to isolate, punish and impoverish Russia in the long term.
The sanctions target Russian banks, oligarchs and high-tech sectors, Biden said. The United States and its allies will block assets of four large Russian banks, impose export controls and sanction oligarchs.
Biden, for weeks, has promised “swift and severe costs” if Russian forces moved into Ukraine, and he made clear that the U.S. would go after Russia financially, not militarily. So, how will Russia be affected by the sanctions?
India had last week inked a USD 5 billion deal to purchase S-400 Triumf air defence system from Moscow.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said it may take two-and-a-half to four years to implement the S-400 missile deal after it is signed.
Washington: The sanctions imposed on the maker of AK-47 by the US Treasury Department last week has caused a spike in sale of the popular assault rifle in the country, media reports said Friday.Kalashnikov Concern,
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