By Mona Austin
The Kremlin is proceeding as if Russia has a right to annex four areas in Ukraine over which it only has partial control, triggering a barrage of severe sanctions from Washington. The U.S. and its western allies in the G7 have denounced theiir actions followin . Russian military has continued aggression on Ukraine as it tries to take over the whole country a piece at a time.
On Friday the White House issued a range of varying sanctions against the country and some of Russian leader Vladmir Putin's top cohorts. Countries that seed Russia's economy with products or funds could also be sanctioned next as pressure to end the war increases.
Russia wants it to appaer like the war they started in February is justified when it was based on a false premise. Putin has claimed that the Ukraine was never an official country and he wants to stop the killing of ethnic Russians there. While focusing on tying up loose ends from the past, the goal all along has been to overtake Ukraine to become what Putin considers to be a rightful part of Russia. Right or worng, the move projects that Russia still has the upperhand not only in battle, but ideologically.
The U.S. has involved several arms of government in response to the Putin's power play -- the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Commerce and the Department of State. The breadth and weight of penalties demonstrate that Biden intends to strike at any and all of Putin's enablers to weaken enagement with loyal insiders and outsiders.
"We will not stand by as Putin fraudulently attempts to annex parts of Ukraine," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.
In this latest round of penalties, the Department of Treasury hit 14 international military suppliers for supporting Russia's military and 278 members of the Russian legislature for supportin wat Biden as referred to as a sham annexation effort.
Sanction were also imposed on Elvira Nabiullina, head of Russia's Central Bank of , who has played a big role in helping to keep Russia's economy afloat in the face of Western sanctions.
The State Department is imposed visa restrictions on anoter prominent individal, Russian national Ochur-Suge Mongush, who tortured a Ukrainian prisoner of war.
Pres. Joe Biden has avoided getting the U.S. directly involved in the conflict, opting to assist by providing billions of dollars in weapons and funds. His hope is that the sanctions will have long-tern ramications to reduce Russia's strength.
The Department of Treasury sanctioned 14 international suppliers for supporting Russia's military supply chains, and 278 members of Russia’s legislature for enabling Russia's attempt at annexation.
The State Department is imposing visa restrictions on Russian national Ochur-Suge Mongush for torturing a Ukrainian prisoner of war.