The sanctions target those connected to opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s imprisonment, as well as Russia’s financial sector, defense industrial base and procurement networks.
President Joe Biden on Friday announced more than 500 new sanctions on Russia over its war in Ukraine and the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny last week in prison.
Biden said the sanctions would target those connected to Navalny’s imprisonment, as well as Russia’s financial sector, defense industrial base, procurement networks and sanctions evaders across several continents.
“They will ensure Putin pays an even steeper price for his aggression abroad and repression at home," Biden said in a statement about the sanctions. He noted the action is timed with the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The U.S. is also imposing export restrictions on almost 100 entities that support Russia’s military efforts and taking action to reduce Russia’s energy revenues, Biden said.
Why wasn’t the us already doing that?
Going all out in the beginning can backfire, there’s a lot you have to think about. A couple things that come to mind:
- You lose leverage, the threat of more sanctions goes away if there’s no way to add more sanctions
- There’s a possible threat to American businesses who at least partly benefit from trade with Russia. Gotta think of how it impacts US citizens as well
- You don’t want to sanction people who haven’t done anything wrong (yet), since it disincentivises being “good”. Why bother doing the right thing if you’re getting punished regardless?
We sanctioned them for invading Ukraine. They responded by… Still invading Ukraine for 2 years. Saying “Hey knock it off” isn’t working.
