US increases sanctions against Russia while sending more aid to Ukraine

The White House said on Friday that the Pentagon would provide $2 billion extra in military assistance to Ukraine’s defence against Russia, one year after Russia invaded the country.

The package includes financing for training, equipment maintenance, and sustainment, more High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) ammo, 155 mm artillery rounds, and munitions for laser-guided rocket systems. Reiterating his promise that “Ukraine will never be a success for Russia,” President Joseph Biden said.

“A dictator intent on restoring an empire won’t be able to eradicate the love of liberty among the populace. Violence will never be able to suppress the free will of the people, said Biden.

United States assistance for Ukraine‘s infrastructure has been confirmed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. According to Blinken, the State Department is offering $10 billion in aid in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Treasury Department, and other agencies, including budgetary support for Ukraine and additional energy aid to help those affected by Russian aggression.

The top U.S. ambassador stated that “these monies are vital to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia and ensures that the Ukrainian government can continue to support the critical needs of its citizens, including health care, education, and emergency services.”

On Friday, the U.S. State Department sanctioned more than 60 senior Russian officials, including Cabinet ministers, regional leaders, and three companies that manage the nation’s nuclear weapons programme. This action coincided with the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In addition to stepping up our efforts to encourage accountability for the Kremlin’s war, we remain dedicated to helping the people of Ukraine, Blinken stated.

In addition, the United States proposed broader international sanctions on firms that assisted Russia in getting around export limits and accessing critical technologies. The metals and mining industries in Russia were among the targets of sanctions, according to the Treasury Department. The Group of Seven nations coordinated the action, which aims to sanction 250 individuals and businesses, impose financial sanctions on banks, arms dealers, and technology companies involved in the production of weapons, as well as pursue alleged sanctions evaders in nations ranging from the United Arab Emirates to Switzerland.

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According to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, “Our sanctions have had both short- and long-term consequences, which is evident keenly in Russia’s struggle to replace its arsenal and in its isolated economy.”

global response

A resolution requesting the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Russian soldiers from Ukraine was passed by the UN on Thursday.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Friday banned Russia’s membership, citing Moscow’s aggression against Ukraine as a violation of the group’s objectives. By establishing international standards and monitoring their observance by nations, the FATF is an intergovernmental body created to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

Raja Kumar, the president of the FATF, stated at a news conference that “this is the first time a member of FATF is suspended.” The group has virtually cut off Russia. Although it emphasised that it would continue to pressure FATF members to go even further and blacklist Russia, Ukraine welcomed the decision.

On Friday, China urged for the beginning of peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine as well as a cease-fire. It was one of twelve recommendations that included calling for the lifting of Western sanctions against Russia, outlining steps to prevent assaults on civilian infrastructure, guaranteeing the security of nuclear sites, and creating routes for the distribution of humanitarian relief.

Although hesitating to condemn Russia’s incursion, China has aimed to be perceived as impartial in the conflict.

The White House responded to Chinese de-escalation efforts on Friday by saying that the call for preserving national sovereignty was the most crucial part of China’s proposal for a cease-fire in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council, claimed that the respect for national sovereignty should have been left out of the first two sentences of the agreement. He refuses to describe the remainder of the Chinese strategy.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, praised several aspects of the Chinese proposal based on the idea of national sovereignty during a press conference on Friday.

At a news conference in Kyiv, he stated, “I think it’s reasonable to assume that if there are concepts that, in some way or another, coincide with respect for international law, to territorial integrity… let’s engage with China on this subject.”

Although he did not specify a time, Zelenskyy also stated that he intended to meet with Xi Jinping, the president of China.

As the conflict with the neighbouring nation reached its second year with no sign of an end in sight earlier on Friday, Zelenskyy declared that his country will triumph over Russia.

“We struggled. We didn’t lose the battle. In a message posted to social media, Zelenskyy said, “We will stop at nothing to win this year. The world has been inspired by Ukraine. The world has been unified by Ukraine.

The ongoing war in eastern Ukraine served as the backdrop for the diplomatic actions. Russia attempted to push along the length of the front line of conflict in eastern and southern Ukraine, according to a statement from Ukraine on Thursday.

Moscow’s forces have advanced in their attempt to encircle Bakhmut in the most recent battles, and Ukrainian military spokesman Brigadier General Oleksiy Gromov claimed that Moscow was attempting to utilise its superior manpower to wear out Kyiv’s forces.

The opposition continues to try to surround Bakhmut despite suffering considerable losses, he claimed.

However, Ukraine claimed that after suffering significant casualties while making an assault across open terrain, Russian forces had been unable to breach Ukrainian defences near Kreminna in the north and at Vuhledar in the south.

According to Gromov, Ukrainian forces have thwarted 90 Russian attacks in the last day in the northeast and east.