BFF-54, 55 US imposes sanctions on Moscow, expels Russian diplomats

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US imposes sanctions on Moscow, expels Russian diplomats

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – The United States announced
sanctions and the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats Thursday in
retaliation for what Washington says is the Kremlin’s US election
interference, a massive cyber attack and other hostile activity.

President Joe Biden’s broadside against Russia came the same week as
he offered to meet President Vladimir Putin for their first summit —
a meeting US officials say remains “vital” so that the two countries
can deescalate.

In an executive order, Biden widened restrictions on US banks
trading in Russian government debt, expelled 10 diplomats who include
alleged spies, and sanctioned 32 individuals accused of meddling in
the 2020 presidential election.

Biden’s order “sends a signal that the United States will impose
costs in a strategic and economically impactful manner on Russia if it
continues or escalates its destabilizing international action,” the
White House said in a statement.

The Kremlin said Thursday that sanctions would not “help” momentum
for a summit and once the White House unveiled its measures, the
Russian foreign ministry warned a Russian response was “inevitable.”

“The United States is not ready to come to terms with the objective
reality that there is a multipolar world that excludes American
hegemony,” spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

The latest tension comes against a backdrop of longterm anger in
Washington at Russian election meddling and worries both in the United
States and its European allies over Russia’s recent troop build up on
the border of Ukraine.

The almost fatal poisoning and ongoing imprisonment of Alexei
Navalny, who is effectively the last open political opponent to Putin,
has further spiked concerns in the West.

A senior US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told
reporters that Washington was ready to impose more measures if
necessary and also that additional actions are already in place but
“will remain unseen.”

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Despite this, the official stressed that Washington is seeking
deescalation and wants the proposed Biden-Putin summit to go ahead.

“We do not desire a downward spiral,” the official said. “In the
coming months it will be vital for the two leaders to sit down to
discuss the full range of issues facing our relationship.”

– Allies back up US –

The White House statement listed in first place Moscow’s “efforts to
undermine the conduct of free and fair democratic elections and
democratic institutions in the United States and its allies and
partners.”

This referred to allegations that Russian intelligence agencies
mounted persistent disinformation and dirty tricks campaigns during
the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, in part to help Donald
Trump’s candidacies.

The White House said the sanctions likewise respond to “malicious
cyber activities against the United States and its allies and
partners,” referring to the massive so-called SolarWinds hack of US
government computer systems last year.

The statement also called out Russia’s “targeting” of dissidents and
journalists on foreign soil and undermining of security in countries
important to US national security.

In addition, the Department of Treasury, together with the European
Union, Australia, Britain and Canada, sanctioned eight individuals and
entities associated with Russia’s occupation of Crimea in Ukraine.

US allies responded with a carefully choreographed show of support.

In Brussels, the NATO military alliance said US allies “support and
stand in solidarity with the United States, following its 15 April
announcement of actions to respond to Russia’s destabilizing
activities.”

NATO members cited a “sustained pattern” of Russian hostility.

“We call on Russia to cease immediately its destabilizing behavior,
and to uphold its international obligations,” they said.

The European Union issued a statement expressing “solidarity with
the United States on the impact of malicious cyber activities, notably
the SolarWinds cyber operation.”

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