Washington (EFE).- The US announced this Friday, one year after the start of the War in Ukraine, new sanctions against ministers of the Russian government chaired by Vladimir Putin, as well as against governors of regions of the country, other politicians and various Russian companies.
The State Department explained in a statement that the sanctions, the most extensive to date announced, are motivated by having participated in the Government, for recruiting citizens to fight in Ukraine or for being part of the economic network that finances the war.
“The United States takes drastic measures on the first anniversary of the war and will continue to take action against Russia until its brutal war against Ukraine ends,” the Department led by Antony Blinken said in a statement.
The sanctions touch important officials
In this way, the US sanctions fifty local authorities, including governors, who “have among their duties the recruitment of citizens to fight in Ukraine.”
He also appoints nine ministers of Putin’s government, from portfolios ranging from Culture (Olga Borisovna Lyubimova), Sport (Oleg Vasilyevich Matytsin) and Civil Defense (Aleksandr Vyacheslavovich Kurenkov).
Several military officers of the Russian Federation will also be punished for “their participation in serious violations of human rights.”
The State Department also designated several entities and individuals for having operated in the financial services sector and dozens of organizations or individuals for their role in activities that “undermine the peace and stability of the United States and its allies.”
Among them are several accused of facilitating the theft of grain and of administering the occupied territory on behalf of the Russian Federation.
This action also includes a person and an entity involved in Russia’s “illegitimate control” of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, as well as three subsidiaries of the Rosatom civilian nuclear facility.
In addition to all these sanctions, the Department announced visa restrictions on 1,219 members of the Russian armed forces for “actions that threaten or violate Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, or political independence.”
As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of sanctioned parties that are in the United States or owned or controlled by US persons will be blocked.
New military aid package
The United States also marked one year since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Friday by announcing a new $2 billion military aid package, including HIMARS missiles, artillery ammunition and drones.
“The United States will continue to work with its allies to provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its immediate battlefield needs and its long-term security requirements for as long as necessary,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
In addition, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the war, the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, called for maintaining the commitment to the defense of Ukraine “to ensure that a world of rules and rights is not replaced by one of tyranny and tumult”.
“Despite the Kremlin’s campaign of cruelty, the citizens of Ukraine have shown amazing courage, skill and fortitude,” Austin said in a statement.
Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Kiev, where he met his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, and announced $500 million in additional aid for the country.
With this trip, which was kept secret until it was underway for security reasons, the Democratic president wanted to make it clear that the United States will remain by Ukraine’s side “as long as necessary.”
In addition to military and humanitarian aid, the United States has sanctioned numerous Russian entities, as the country’s attorney general, Merrick Garland, recalled in a statement today.
Since the start of the conflict on February 24, 2022, the US has provided some $29.8 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, as well as more than $15 billion in humanitarian, economic, and development support.
