The United States is set to impose a fresh wave of sanctions on Russia on Friday, targeting its military industrial complex and companies in third countries that facilitate Russia’s access to goods.

BREAKING: Reuters reports the US is set to impose new sanctions on Russia targeting its 'military industrial complex and companies in third countries that facilitate Russia's access to goods'
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) February 23, 2024

The move is part of a coordinated effort with the G7, Australia, and other partners to increase pressure on Moscow over its illegal war in Ukraine and the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Background

The new sanctions mark the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which sparked the worst crisis in Europe since the end of the Cold War.

Despite international condemnation and existing sanctions, Russia has continued to support separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine, violating the 2015 Minsk agreements that aimed to end the conflict.

The war has claimed over 14,000 lives and displaced millions of people.

The sanctions also come after the US and its allies accused Russia of using a nerve agent to poison Navalny, a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin, in August 2020.

Navalny survived the attack and returned to Russia in January 2021, only to be arrested and sentenced to more than two years in prison on politically motivated charges. His imprisonment sparked mass protests across Russia, which were met with brutal crackdowns by the authorities.

Details

According to the US Department of State, the new sanctions will affect over 300 entities, individuals, vessels, and aircraft. The targets include:

Entities and individuals involved in Russia’s defense and related materiel, technology, and metals and mining sectors. These include state-owned enterprises, private companies, and individuals that provide goods or services to the Russian military or facilitate its access to foreign markets.
Entities and individuals involved in expanding Russia’s future energy production and capacity. These include companies and individuals that are involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would deliver Russian gas to Europe, bypassing Ukraine. The US and its allies have opposed the project, arguing that it would increase Europe’s dependence on Russian energy and undermine Ukraine’s security and sovereignty.
Entities and individuals that have engaged in the systematic and unlawful deportation of Ukraine’s children and the theft and transportation of stolen grain from Ukraine. These include entities and individuals that have participated in or facilitated the forcible removal of children from their families in the occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas, as well as the looting and smuggling of Ukrainian agricultural products.
An international network of entities engaged in the procurement of components for the Russia-based entity responsible for the manufacture of the Orlan drone, which Russian forces are currently employing in their illegal war against Ukraine, and the Russia-installed puppet authorities in parts of Ukraine’s territory. These include entities and individuals that have supplied or transferred parts or technology to the Russian entity or its affiliates, or have acted as intermediaries or facilitators for such transactions.

The US Department of the Treasury is also issuing a new determination identifying the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, and transportation sectors of the Russian Federation economy as subject to sanctions.

This means that any person determined to operate or to have operated in any of those sectors can be sanctioned by the US.

Additionally, the US is prohibiting the exportation, re-exportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the US, or by a US person, wherever located, of architecture services or engineering services to any person located in the Russian Federation, in alignment with G7 partners.

The US Department of Commerce is also announcing additional export control measures to restrict Russia’s access to items that can be used for military purposes or to support its malign activities.

Impact

The US and its allies hope that the new sanctions will increase the economic and diplomatic costs for Russia’s aggression and repression, and deter further violations of international law and human rights.

The sanctions are also intended to send a clear message to Russia that the US and its partners stand with Ukraine and support its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

However, Russia has dismissed the new sanctions as illegitimate and counterproductive, and vowed to retaliate with reciprocal measures.

Russia has also accused the US and its allies of meddling in its internal affairs and trying to undermine its security and interests.

Russia has denied any involvement in the poisoning of Navalny and the war in Ukraine, and claimed that it is acting in self-defense and in accordance with international law.

The new sanctions are unlikely to change Russia’s behavior in the short term, as Putin has shown a willingness to withstand economic pressure and political isolation in pursuit of his strategic goals.

However, the sanctions may have a long-term impact on Russia’s economy and society, as they limit its access to foreign markets, technology, and capital, and erode its legitimacy and credibility in the eyes of the world.

The sanctions may also increase the domestic discontent and opposition to Putin’s rule, as they affect the living standards and prospects of ordinary Russians.

Summary

The following table summarizes the main points of the article:

Topic	Summary
What	The US is imposing new sanctions on Russia over its war in Ukraine and the poisoning of Navalny
When	Friday, February 23, 2024
Why	To increase pressure on Russia and hold it accountable for its illegal and malign actions
Who	The US, in coordination with the G7, Australia, and other partners
How	Targeting over 300 entities and individuals across various sectors of the Russian economy and society, and restricting Russia’s access to goods and services that can be used for military or malicious purposes
Impact	Expected to increase the economic and diplomatic costs for Russia, but unlikely to change its behavior in the short term

Reactions

The new sanctions have drawn mixed reactions from the international community and the public. Some of the responses are:

Ukraine: Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the new sanctions and thanked the US and its allies for their solidarity and support. He said that the sanctions were a strong signal to Russia that its aggression and impunity would not be tolerated, and that the international community was united in defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also urged Russia to respect the Minsk agreements and engage in a constructive dialogue to end the war and restore peace in the region.
European Union: The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that the EU was fully aligned with the US and its partners in imposing the new sanctions on Russia. He said that the sanctions were a response to Russia’s continued violations of international law and human rights, and that the EU was ready to take further measures if necessary. He also called on Russia to release Navalny and all other political prisoners, and to cooperate with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in the investigation of the poisoning incident.
China: China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that China opposed the new sanctions on Russia and urged the US and its allies to stop interfering in Russia’s internal affairs. He said that the sanctions were based on false accusations and violated the basic norms of international relations. He also said that China supported Russia’s efforts to safeguard its national sovereignty and security, and that China and Russia would continue to strengthen their strategic partnership and coordination in the face of external challenges.
Russia: Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that the new sanctions were an act of hostility and aggression against Russia and its people. She said that the sanctions were illegitimate and counterproductive, and that they would only worsen the already tense relations between Russia and the West. She also said that Russia would respond with reciprocal measures and that the US and its allies would bear full responsibility for the consequences of their actions.

Comparison with the war in Gaza

Another recent conflict that has drawn international attention and intervention is the war in Gaza, where Israel and Hamas have exchanged deadly airstrikes and rocket attacks.

How does this war compare with the war in Ukraine, and what role does the US play in both situations?

Similarities

Both the war in Gaza and the war in Ukraine are conflicts that involve territorial disputes, ethnic divisions, and external interventions.

In both cases, the US and its allies have supported one side (Israel and Ukraine) against another (Hamas and Russia) that they accuse of violating international law and human rights. Both wars have also resulted in high civilian casualties, humanitarian crises, and diplomatic challenges for the international community.

Differences

However, there are also some differences between the two wars. For example:

The war in Gaza is a long-standing conflict that dates back to the creation of Israel in 1948 and the subsequent Arab-Israeli wars, whereas the war in Ukraine is a recent conflict that erupted in 2014 after Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its support for separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.
The war in Gaza is a regional conflict that involves mainly Israel and Hamas, with some involvement from other Arab and Muslim countries, whereas the war in Ukraine is a global conflict that involves mainly Ukraine and Russia, with some involvement from the US, the EU, NATO, and other countries.
The war in Gaza is a symmetrical conflict that involves two parties with comparable military capabilities, whereas the war in Ukraine is an asymmetrical conflict that involves one party (Ukraine) with inferior military capabilities against another party (Russia) with superior military capabilities.
The war in Gaza is a stalemate conflict that has no clear resolution or outcome, whereas the war in Ukraine is a dynamic conflict that has some prospects for negotiation and settlement, such as the Minsk agreements.

Implications

The comparison between the two wars reveals some of the complexities and challenges that the US and its allies face in dealing with international conflicts.

On the one hand, the US and its allies have a strategic interest in supporting their allies and promoting so-called democracy, human rights, and peace.

On the other hand, the US and its allies have to balance their interests and values with the realities and risks of the conflicts, such as the potential for escalation, retaliation, and backlash.

The US and its allies also have to engage with their adversaries and other stakeholders, such as Russia, China, Iran, and the UN, to find diplomatic solutions and prevent further violence.

Conclusion

The new sanctions on Russia are the latest escalation in the ongoing confrontation between the US and its allies and Russia over a range of issues, including Ukraine, Navalny, cyberattacks, human rights, and arms control.

The sanctions are intended to increase the pressure on Russia and hold it accountable for its illegal and malign actions, but they are unlikely to change Russia’s behavior in the short term, as Putin has shown a willingness to withstand economic pressure and political isolation in pursuit of his strategic goals.