The head of the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Gregory Meeks, on Friday, January 21, introduced a new bill on sanctions against Russia in the event of its invasion of Ukraine. The document lists the measures described in a similar bill, which was introduced a few days earlier by the chairman of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Robert Menendez. At the same time, Meeks submitted the document to the lower house of Congress, and Menendez to the upper house.
In particular, the Miks bill provides for restrictive measures in relation to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, the Russian mining industry and at least three Russian financial institutions from the following list: Alfa-Bank, VTB, the state development corporation VEB.RF , Gazprombank, Moscow Credit Bank, Otkritie, Promsvyazbank, Rosselkhozbank, Russian Direct Investment Fund, Sberbank of Russia, Sovcombank and Transcapitalbank.
Prohibition of transactions with the state debt of the Russian Federation
The bill includes sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian leaders, as well as a ban on any transactions with Russian public debt. In addition, the Democratic congressman proposes to increase US military assistance to Ukraine.
The bill can go to President Joseph Biden for signature only after approval by both houses of Congress.
Congressman Mix: Russia is moving troops to Ukraine and Belarus
Russia continues to deploy its troops “both to the border with Ukraine and to Belarus”, which is “an act of aggression, as reckless as it is disturbing,” said the author of the bill. The US and its transatlantic allies should make it clear to Moscow that “any action that constitutes an incursion by the Russian military on sovereign territory will be met with significant consequences,” Meeks added.
Has grown in recent months. The Russian Federation deployed about 100 thousand military personnel to the annexed Crimea and to the border with Ukraine, explaining this by military exercises. Western leaders fear that Moscow is preparing for war. The Kremlin denies plans for such an operation and accuses the West of arming Ukraine and maneuvering near Russian borders.
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Author: Irina Filatova, Vitaly Kropman
