Respond forcefully to Moscow. From the United States to Canada, via the United Kingdom and the European Union, the international community announced, Thursday, February 24, multiple sanctions against Russia after the invasion of Ukraine decided by Vladimir Putin. Franceinfo takes stock of the reprisals against Russia.
The European Union
The Twenty-Seven approved on Thursday a new set of sanctions against Russia, in response to its invasion of Ukraine. Targeting the financial, energy and transport sectors, they must have “massive and serious consequences”, according to the joint declaration of the Member States. The aim is to radically limit Russia’s access to European capital markets.
These measures, decided “in close coordination with partners and allies” of the EU, will also cover dual-use goods (both civilian and military) and the issuance of visas. The EU will also reduce Russia’s access to “crucial technologies”depriving it of electronic components and software and prohibiting the export of aircraft, parts and equipment for the aeronautical and space industry, as well as refining technologies for the oil industry.
New sanctions against personalities close to Vladimir Putin must be added to those already in force on Wednesday. They will target individuals in circles of power by freezing, among other things, their assets and denying them access to European soil. In addition, Belarus, accused of being involved in Russian operations, will be hit with additional sanctions, according to the joint statement of the Twenty-Seven.
United States
US head of state Joe Biden announced economic sanctions and export restrictions to Russia on Thursday. These economic and financial reprisals “surpass anything that has ever been done”supported the president of the United States during a televised address from the White House.
Four additional Russian banks, including the two largest in the country, Sberbank and VTB Bank, will also be sanctioned and more than half of Russia’s technology imports eliminated, said the elected Democrat. “This will impose a severe cost on the Russian economy, both immediately and in the long term”warned Joe Biden.
The American president also announced that several large Russian companies (13 in total), including the energy giant Gazoprom, could no longer finance themselves on the American financial market, a sanction which had already been taken against the Russian government. -same. Exports of technological products for the defense and aeronautical sectors to Russia have also been reduced.
The United States has also extended the list of sanctioned Russian oligarchs, a way of tapping into the wallet the large fortunes close to Vladimir Putin, fond of investments and extravagant expenses abroad. Washington will also sanction 24 Belarusian individuals and organizations accused of supporting and aiding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The American president was also questioned bluntly by journalists about the sanctions that Westerners have not taken. He assured Thursday that cutting Russia off from the Swift interbank network, a vital cog in global finance, remained “an option”. But he acknowledged that such a decision, demanded by Ukraine, was not supported by the Europeans.
Canada
For its part, Canada will sanction “58 people and entities” Russians. Sanctions will target “members of the Russian elite”from “large Russian banks” and “members of the Russian Security Council” in particular, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Russian ministers are precisely targeted by the sanctions: those of Defense, Finance and Justice, as well as the group of Russian mercenaries Wagner, reputed to be close to President Vladimir Putin.
“We are stopping all export permits for Russia”, added Justin Trudeau. These export permits suspended by Canada are worth more than 700 million Canadian dollars (488 million euros) and target, for example, companies in the aerospace, mining and information technology sectors.
“These sanctions are far-reaching”assured Justin Trudeau, who estimated that the Russian invasion of Ukraine represented a “huge threat [pour] security and peace in the world”.
The United Kingdom
The British Prime Minister had very harsh words against Russia. “Putin (…) will never be able to wash his hands of the blood of Ukraine”said Boris Johnson, announcing “the largest and toughest economic sanctions package Russia has ever seen”.
The Russian airline Aeroflot, a member of the international SkyTeam alliance with Air France-KLM, will no longer be able to serve the United Kingdom. In addition to the five banks already sanctioned on Tuesday, the Russian public banking giant VTB is targeted and sees its assets on British soil frozen.
More generally, the new measures “will allow us to completely exclude Russian banks from the British financial sector, which is of course the largest in Europe”, said Boris Johnson. They will also prevent public and private companies from raising funds in the UK and limit the sums Russians can hold in their UK bank accounts.
In total, 100 new entities will be targeted, such as the Rostec conglomerate (defense, aerospace, technologies, etc.). Five businessmen and women, Kirill Chamalov (petrochemicals), described by the media as the former son-in-law of Vladimir Putin, Yuri Slyusar (aeronautics), Piotr Fradkov (bank), Denis Bortnikov (bank) and Elena Guéorguieva (bank) are added to the list of personalities banned from entering British soil, where their assets are frozen.
australia
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Thursday a “second series” of sanctions against four financial institutions and 25 people belonging to four entities in charge of the development and sale of military equipment.
The head of the Australian government added that other series of sanctions, in particular against more than 300 members of the Duma, the Russian Parliament, having approved the“illegal invasion of Ukraine”will be taxed “as we identify those responsible”.
Japan
Japan also imposed additional sanctions against Moscow on Friday morning. At the end of a online meeting of G7 leaders, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced “the freezing of assets and the suspension of the issuance of visas to Russian persons and organizations”.
The head of the Japanese government also announced other measures on “exports to Russian military-related organizations” and on “general purpose goods like semiconductors and items on a restricted list based on international agreements”.
Switzerland
The Federal Council chose a median vote by deciding on Thursday not to align itself with Western sanctions against Russia. But Swiss President Ignazio Cassis has decided to“prevent circumvention of EU sanctions via Switzerland”. Because who says neutrality “does not mean indifference”he said after an extraordinary meeting.
Thus Moscow will not be able to use Switzerland to avoid international sanctions on the financial markets, as certain operations are now subject to authorization. This decision taken by Switzerland is important given the role that the Swiss financial center plays in Europe and for Russia.
The majority of Russian oil is indeed traded in Geneva, as well as cereals and metals, and the company managing the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline (on which Germany has just suspended work) also has its headquarters in Switzerland, in Zug.