The U.S. Treasury Department said it was preparing a new set of sanctions, aimed primarily at Russia’s energy sector, whose implementation would be conditional on President Vladimir Putin’s eventual refusal to accept a peace deal in Ukraine. According to the media, this statement came as part of a recent change in the policy of US economic restrictions on companies and individuals related to the Russian military industry.
According to a Treasury Department statement published and cited by the original source, the United States has lifted economic sanctions against seven companies and two individuals who, according to US authorities, were involved in relevant transactions with the Russian military industry during the war in Ukraine. The measure affected companies such as Veles International Limited, Hadlerco Limited, Hi-tech Koneisto International Oy, 365 Days Freight Services Fzco and ETASIS AS. The economic sanctions against Russian citizen Dimitri Bugaenko and Finnish citizen Eugenia Dremova were also lifted.
The Treasury Department stated that the initial restrictions against these companies and individuals were in response to their alleged role in supplying “restricted” products to Russia and their involvement in economic activities that would benefit the country’s military industry. The official document said that these companies and citizens “were involved in significant transactions related to the Russian military industry and facilitated prohibited Russian activities,” as quoted by the media.
As for the reasons for the lifting of the sanctions in question by the United States, the Treasury Department did not explain in its statement the specific conditions that motivated the lifting of the restrictions, other than confirming the decision and warning about the possibility of future actions in view of the continuation of the armed conflict in Ukraine.
The media explained that this strategic easing of sanctions comes at the same time that the US government is considering new steps to put pressure on the Moscow government. The suspended sanctions were part of a broader series of measures aimed at hampering Russia’s military and economic capabilities following the offensive on Ukrainian territory that began in 2022.
The report cited emphasized that the US authorities are constantly recalibrating the sanctions regime as political and military conditions change, both internationally and with regard to the actions and decisions of the Russian government. At the same time, the Treasury emphasized its determination to closely monitor the development of the conflict and promised that additional measures will be taken if the peace dialogue does not progress or Russia’s resistance to negotiating a negotiated settlement persists.
The statement also contained specific references to the preparation of an upcoming sanctions package with a focus on the energy sector, which the Finance Ministry considers a key pillar of the Russian economy. US officials made it known through this channel that the aim of future actions would be to “increase pressure on Moscow” if Putin rejects proposals to end the war.
The report cites official sources indicating that while current restrictions have been lifted for some companies and individuals, the general structure of sanctions remains in place and may change depending on the political and military situation in Ukraine. In this way, Washington emphasized the intention to modulate economic pressure based on developments and reactions of the Russian authorities to international calls for peacemaking.
The companies and individuals benefiting from this sanctions relief had previously been identified due to their involvement in the provision of goods deemed sensitive to the Russian war effort. According to media reports, the Finance Ministry stressed that international cooperation is essential to combat the flow of resources into the Russian economy and armed forces during the conflict.
The announcement of these measures came amid ongoing international tensions over the legality and legitimacy of Russian actions on Ukrainian territory, as well as the mechanisms available to Western partners to limit Russia’s military and economic capacity until a final solution is found.
The Finance Ministry left open the possibility of resuming or tightening its restrictive measures if new violations are discovered or the Russian government decides to continue the military campaign. The document reaffirmed the US government’s intention to use all economic means at its disposal to force Russia to accept conditions that would allow for a permanent ceasefire.
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