At least three countries announced the first economic sanctions against Russia after the move to recognize separatist groups in Ukraine as independents, announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday (22).
According to a survey of CNN Agencythe United States, Germany and the United Kingdom have already moved to restrict executives, companies, authorization for enterprises, among others, linked to Russia.
So far, the russian reaction it was no surprise. Sergei Lavrov, the country’s foreign minister, said the West would impose them regardless of recognition of the self-styled republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.
“Our European, American and British colleagues will not stop and will not calm down until they have exhausted all their possibilities for the so-called ‘punishment of Russia’. They are already threatening us with all sorts of sanctions or, as they say now, ‘the mother of all sanctions,’” Lavrov said.
Some institutions in the country had already advanced the announced measures. Russia’s ratings agency ACRA estimated that the country’s banks imported $5 billion in foreign currency banknotes in December 2021, up from $2.65 billion a year earlier, a preventive action in the event of sanctions that create an increase in on demand.
However, the promise of Western countries is that more measures will be announced as tensions on the borders with Ukraine escalate. The European Union and Japan have already confirmed that they are studying possible possibilities of pressure against Russia.
U.S
On Monday, the White House announced less severe and more specific sanctions. President Joe Biden issued an executive order “banning new American investment, trade and financing” for the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk in eastern Ukraine.
The import and export of goods, services and technologies from the regions are prohibited, as well as the entry of leaders or associated with political leaders in separatist areas.
The new sanctions will be announced on Tuesday (22), according to information from US government officials.
Germany
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany would suspend certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in response to Russia’s decision to recognize independence from breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.
Russia is responsible for 1/3 of the gas consumed in Europe. Germany is at the center of pressure over the 1,200-kilometer Nord Stream 2, an $11 billion mega-project completed in September.
As a consequence of the decision to suspend the pipeline, the price of the gas tariff is expected to increase in Europe in the coming days. The reduction in demand should harm the Russian government’s revenue.
United Kingdom
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced sanctions against five Russian banks and three top Russian executives. They are Rossiya, IS Bank, General Bank, Promsvyazbank and the Black Sea Bank, as well as magnates Gennady Timchenko, Igor Rotenberg and Boris Rotenberg.
“We want to prevent Russian companies from being able to raise funds in sterling or even dollars. We want them to stop raising funds in UK markets and we want to remove the veil that hides the ownership of property in this country”, declared the prime minister before the British parliament.
According to Johnson, it’s time to “prepare” for the next stages of Putin’s Ukraine plan after Moscow sent Russian forces to two breakaway regions in the east of the country.
*With information from Reuters and CNN
Source: CNN Brasil
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