US Senate has prepared sanctions against Putin and his entourage | News from Germany on world events | Dw

The US Senate on Wednesday, January 12, promulgated a bill on tough sanctions against Russia, which for the first time should apply personally to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle. A massive package of penalties should come into force in the event of an invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine.

Among the measures proposed by the Senate, which, according to the American media, have already received approval in the White House, are the ban on entry into the United States and the freezing of American assets of Putin, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Similar sanctions are proposed to be introduced against the commanders of various types of Russian troops and other persons whom the White House considers to be involved in the “aggression against Ukraine.”

Within six months, the US Treasury, the State Department and intelligence will have to publish a detailed report on the property of Vladimir Putin, his relatives and close businessmen. They may also be subject to sanctions.

Sanctions against Nord Stream 2

According to the bill proposed by the Senate, the US President within 30 days after the invasion of Russian troops in Ukraine will be obliged to impose sanctions against at least three of the largest Russian banks. It is proposed to impose sanctions against the Russian external debt, as well as the German-Russian gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 (SP-2).

The document, in particular, recommends “to consider all available and adequate measures” in order to prevent the operation of the SP-2, which the senators call “an instrument of the Russian Federation’s harmful influence.” “This bill clearly demonstrates that the US Senate will not sit idly by when the Kremlin threatens to invade Ukraine again,” said Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez.

As part of the penalties developed by the senators, the United States is also invited to increase military assistance to Ukraine. For several months now, Western countries and Ukraine have been reporting that Russia is pulling troops to the border with Ukraine and accusing it of preparing for an invasion of Ukrainian territory. Moscow denies plans to invade and, for its part, accuses the West of arming Ukraine and conducting maneuvers near Russian borders.

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