On Monday, United States (US) President Joe Biden slammed Russia with a fresh wave of sanctions for declaring Donetsk and Luhansk, two breakaway territories in the Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine, as “independent states.” Washington emphasised that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to recognise Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) in an official capacity violate Russia’s commitments to the Minsk Agreements.
I have signed an Executive Order to deny Russia the chance to profit from its blatant violations of international law. We are continuing to closely consult with Allies and partners, including Ukraine, on next steps. pic.twitter.com/ZS81ivAPgs
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 22, 2022
In retaliation, Biden signed an Executive Order (EO) putting into place various economic prohibitions that block American financing, trade, and investment in the DNR and LNR. The EO grants Washington the authority to impose sanctions on individuals who are found to be providing or sponsoring any sort of economic or material support for the two territories. A White House statement highlighted that the new sanctions do not limit humanitarian aid to the regions. However, the statement stressed that the current set of sanctions are different from the “swift and severe economic measures” that the US and its Allies are prepared to impose if Russia continues its military aggression towards Ukraine.
A senior Biden administration official told reporters that Putin’s actions are in line with the sequence of events the US had laid out and predicted at the United Nations (UN) Security Council meeting, noting that there has been a sharp increase in the number of “false-flag” events. The official labelled Putin’s actions as “theatrics” and not “legitimate statecraft,” adding that Putin is “accelerating the very conflict he has created.”
Russia’s move to recognize the “independence” of so-called republics controlled by its own proxies is a predictable, shameful act. We condemn them in the strongest possible terms and #StandWithUkraine, as I told Foreign Minister @DmytroKuleba tonight.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) February 22, 2022
Amid the heightened security environment, the US Department of State said its personnel in Lviv spent the night in Poland due to safety concerns. Last week, Biden temporarily shifted Washington’s diplomatic mission in Kyiv to Lviv near the Polish border. Washington provided assurances of diplomatic support for Americans in Ukraine but warned that a Russian invasion of the country is imminent.
According to Reuters, if Russia invades Ukraine, the US will prohibit American financial institutions from conducting business with major Russian banks. The US is also planning to consider placing Russian banks on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, which would effectively bar them from participating in the American banking system.
Tomorrow, the U.S. will impose sanctions on Russia for its violation of international law and Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We can, will, and must stand united in our calls for Russia to withdraw its forces, return to the diplomatic table & work toward peace.
— Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield (@USAmbUN) February 22, 2022
Additionally, the senior Biden administration official said that Washington has already prepared to take further actions over the matter in the next few days. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed this move, adding that Washington is consulting its allies, including Kyiv, to stop the ongoing escalation. Although Biden has agreed to meet Putin “in principle,” recent developments indicate that decision might rest on the upcoming meeting between the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
We strongly reiterate our recommendation to U.S. citizens to depart Ukraine immediately. The security situation in Ukraine continues to be unpredictable throughout the country and may deteriorate with little notice. https://t.co/cZzNgnBmr3
— Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) February 22, 2022