Washington:
The United States announced financial sanctions against Russia on Thursday and the expulsion of 10 diplomats in retaliation for what Washington says is the Kremlin’s US election interference, a enormous cyber attack and other hostile activity.
US President Joe Biden ordered a widening of restrictions on US banks trading in Russian government debt, expelled 10 diplomats who incorporate alleged spies, and sanctioned 32 men and women alleged to have attempted to meddle in the 2020 presidential election, the White House stated.
Biden’s executive 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 stated in a statement.
The statement listed in 1st spot 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 for the duration of the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, in aspect to support Donald Trump’s candidacy.
The White House stated the sanctions also respond to “malicious cyber activities against the United States and its allies and partners,” referring to the enormous so-known as SolarWinds hack of US government laptop or computer systems final year.
The statement also known as out Russia’s extraterritorial “targeting” of dissidents and journalists and undermining of safety in nations essential to US national safety.
In addition, the Department of Treasury, with each other with the European Union, Australia, Britain and Canada, sanctioned eight men and women and entities related with Russia’s occupation of Crimea in Ukraine.
In Brussels, the NATO military alliance stated 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.”
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