Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the 500 sanctions imposed on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the death of Alexei Navalny on Friday. With two years elapsed since the Russia-Ukrainian war began, Blinken stated, “the United States will continue to stand resolutely with the Ukrainian people in their defense of their homeland” and that US support.” Secretary of State said that Ukraine is integral to the US national security interests.
“Putin’s war threatens not only Ukraine, but also the security of the United States, our NATO Allies, and the free and open international order we depend on,” said Blinken.
“It is imperative that we defend the basic rules that have undergirded peace, security, and prosperity since the end of World War II, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the right of states to choose their own future.”
The US has been able to build a coalition of 50 countries, consisting of all of the NATO member states and the G7 to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty, and which will hold Russia accountable through these new sanctions.
“There is a clear link between Russia’s authoritarianism, its crackdown on domestic dissent, and its aggression abroad. We are imposing additional costs for Russia’s internal repression, the death of Alexei Navalny, and the war against Ukraine,” said Blinken.
Blinken continued to outline the Department of State’s plan.
“Specifically, the Department of State is imposing sanctions on more than 250 entities and individuals to help deprive the Russian regime of the revenue and technology it needs to prosecute its war effort and engage in destabilizing activity around the world. Our targets include those involved in the evasion of our economic restrictions against Russia and those responsible for bolstering Russia’s future energy, metals, and mining production among others,” said Blinken.
The Department is also pursuing action to hold Russian human rights abusers accountable by implementing visa restrictions on five Kremlin-backed individuals in Ukraine. These individuals are implicated in the deportation and confinement of Ukraine’s children.
“The United States will use all available tools to hinder Russia’s ability to access the global financial system, disrupt Russia’s military-industrial-procurement, stand in solidarity with Russians striving for a more democratic future, and ensure Putin’s invasion remains a strategic failure for Russia,” said Blinken.
