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| The Biden administration is expected to announce the sanctions as soon as Thursday. (Photo by= EPA) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] The US government is scheduled to issue a wide range of sanctions against Russia, according to reports. The move would be retaliation for cyber-attacks aimed at the US, including alleged interference in the 2020 presidential elections.
The sanctions, expected on Thursday, target around 30 Russian entities and include the expulsion of at least 10 individuals from the US. Diplomats will reportedly be among those targeted. The administration of US President Joe Biden is also expected to issue an executive order barring US financial institutions from purchasing rouble-denominated bonds from June, sources told BBC partner CBS News. The measures are coming at a tense time for US-Russia relations.
They’re the second major round of sanctions against Moscow after seven mid-level and senior Russian officials, and more than a dozen government entities were targeted over the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny last month. Russia says it had no part in the poisoning. During a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, Mr. Biden said the US would "act firmly" in defense of its national interests. Mr. Biden also proposed a meeting with Mr. Putin "in a third country" that could allow the leaders to find areas to work together. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said any new sanctions, which he described as illegal, wouldn’t help plans for a summit.
