Washington Unleashes New Batch of Sanctions against Moscow

Sept. 15, 2023, (EIRNS)—The U.S. State Department announced more sanctions against Russia, yesterday, aimed at Russian economic projects in the Arctic, its energy sector and its defense production. This came two days after the Sept. 12 keynote to the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum by Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he said that economic development in Eastern and Northern Russia is the priority for the 21st century.

The new U.S. State and Treasury Departments sanctions target over 150 individuals and entities, including in Türkiye, the U.A.E. and Georgia, “in connection with Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine,” said Tony Blinken in a statement issued yesterday. “As part of today’s action, the U.S. government is targeting individuals and entities engaged in sanctions evasion and circumvention, those complicit in furthering Russia’s ability to wage its war against Ukraine, and those responsible for bolstering Russia’s future energy production.”

The targets include more than “70 entities and individuals involved in expanding Russia’s energy production and export capacity, operating in Russia’s metals and mining sectors, and aiding Russian individuals and entities in evading international sanctions,” (in reality, they aren’t “international sanctions” but rather unilateral sanctions imposed by the U.S. and the EU—ed), the statement says.

“Additionally, the Department is designating numerous entities producing and repairing Russian weapon systems, including the Kalibr cruise missile used by Russian forces against cities and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, and an individual affiliated with the Wagner Group involved in the shipment of munitions from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the Russian Federation.

“Concurrently, the Department of the Treasury is imposing nearly 100 sanctions on Russia’s elites and its industrial base, financial institutions, and technology suppliers, including one official of the Wagner Group for advancing Russia’s malign activities in the Central African Republic.”

Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov characterized the new round of sanctions as futile attempts to harm Russia and destroy its economy. “Either out of despair, or because of illusions, the U.S. authorities fanatically invent new measures to harm our country,” he said. He noted that thousands of illegal sanctions have already been imposed on Russia, but contrary to the expectations of Western countries, “they have not been effective in defeating our economy.”

Antonov concluded, “It’s high time Washington realized that the spiral of sanctions will lead nowhere. Our country will never cease to defend its national interests while firmly upholding the principles of equality and indivisibility of security in international relations. Recent Russia-Africa, BRICS, and G20 summits have shown that we have many supporters on this issue.”