U.S. to Impose New Sanctions on Russia, Reports Suggest
According to sources, the outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden is set to impose new sanctions on Russia, with the decision to be announced this week, a U.S. official told Reuters. The sanctions will reportedly target the Russian economy.
The move is part of a broader effort to strengthen the military of Ukraine before the inauguration of the incoming U.S. President Donald Trump, who is set to take office on January 20. While the details of the sanctions remain unclear, it is known that Chinese companies could be affected.
Additionally, the Biden administration is expected to announce a new military aid package for Ukraine, worth $500 million, on January 9. The package will include missiles for air defense systems, air-to-ground missiles, and additional equipment for F-16 fighter jets, according to sources.
The U.S. government is also considering a toughening of sanctions on Russian oil exports, as reported by Bloomberg in December. Initially, Biden had not planned to impose such sanctions, fearing they could lead to a surge in energy prices. However, with Donald Trump’s victory and concerns that he might pressure Ukraine to quickly resolve the conflict with Russia, such measures may now be on the table.
Russia has repeatedly emphasized that Western sanctions are an ineffective political tool, saying that they can always be circumvented, even if it takes some time, as stated by Russian President’s spokesperson Dmitri Peskov in November.