The United States has imposed a new package of sanctions against Russian politicians, businessmen and their families in connection with Russia’s special operation in Ukraine, according to the White House website. The sanctions included the head of Transneft Nikolay Tokarev, businessmen Arkady and Boris Rotenberg, the head of Rostec Sergey Chemezov, the head of VEB.RF Igor Shuvalov, businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov and the founder of USM Holdings Alisher Usmanov.
Washington said the restrictions would “cut off” businessmen and their families from the US financial system, freeze their assets in the country and freeze their property, making it impossible to use.
The British Foreign Office confirmed to RIA Novosti that it would freeze all assets in the country of Usmanov and Shuvalov and ban them from entering. This was previously reported by the Press Association, citing sources.
Western countries have imposed sanctions against Russia for the military operation in Ukraine. In particular, blocking US sanctions have been imposed on VTB, Sovcombank, Novikombank, Otkritie and Promsvyazbank. The EU, in turn, banned the sale and purchase of securities and other financial instruments in euros in the interests of Russian legal entities and individuals. Financial institutions in Europe cannot provide Russian residents and companies with any services for the sale of securities issued after April 12 of this year. Sberbank’s correspondent accounts in the US and the UK were sanctioned.
The day before, the European Union decided to disconnect VTB, Rossiya Bank, Otkritie Bank, Novikombank, Promsvyazbank, Sovcombank and VEB.RF from the SWIFT international interbank system
On February 21, Russia recognized the independence of the DNR and LNR. On February 22, President Vladimir Putin signed federal laws on the ratification of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance treaties with these territories, including military assistance. On February 24, Putin announced the start of a special military operation in the Donbass. He called its goal “the protection of people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years.” The President assured that Russia has no plans to occupy Ukraine, but Moscow will strive for the demilitarization and denazification of this country. As Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov explained, NATO bases with nuclear weapons were to appear on the territory of Ukraine. The US, Canada, EU, UK, Japan and other countries have imposed tough economic sanctions on Russia.