Tata
08/06/2022

Tata
08/06/2022

Russia slaps 61 americans with sanctions

The war in Ukraine has shown the world that there is a battle for supremacy between the United States and Russia. For every sanction imposed on Russia, it returns the favor by imposing corresponding sanctions on the United States and its allies. The latest of this was the imposition of sanctions on 61 Americans. 

On Monday, the Russian foreign ministry announced the names of 61 Americans who are not allowed to step into the country. Those included in the list are Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and Head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination James O’Brien. 

The Russian foreign ministry did not deny that the sanctions were in retaliation to the various sanctions that have been imposed on Russia by the United States. As expected, the Russian government blamed the United States for the sanctions.

The statement released by the ministry made stated that the new sanctions were necessary because of the “ever-expanding US sanctions against Russian political and public figures, as well as representative of domestic businesses.” 

Recall that on Monday, the government of the United States seized two aircraft belonging to former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who is possibly a close companion of Putin. It came hours after a court judgment mandated the government to seize the billionaire’s assets. 

In the past, the United States government has also imposed sanctions on other Russians, including top government officials in the Kremlin. Roman Abramovich and other Russian oligarchs have forfeited most of their properties and businesses in America and Europe because of sanctions from the United States and its allies.

This is not the first time the Kremlin is sanctioning people. According to CNN, “In May, Russia banned a total of 963 American officials and figures from entering the country, including President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.” The founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg and actor Morgan Freeman were also on the first list of sanctioned Americans.

Other Americans on the long list of those banned from entering the country were senators, house of representative members, military heads, celebrities, journalists, Heads of companies, and even ordinary citizens. 

The Russian government has also imposed sanctions on over 20 Canadians, including Prime Minister Justine Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau. Other top Canadian officials were also sanctioned.

Russia has now placed sanctions on over 1000 Americans. America has also placed sanctions on a significant number of Russians. The competition of sanctions might continue for as long as the war goes on and beyond. 

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