By Christina Zhao and Allie Raffa -
NBC News
The United States, the European Union and the rest of the countries of the Group of Seven (the G7, which brings together the world's main economies) announced this Sunday new sanctions against Russia, against the media, sociopolitical elites and services controlled by the regime of Vladimir Putin, and in punishment for financing the war in Ukraine, as announced by the government headed by Joe Biden.
The announcement came during the virtual meeting of the G7 (made up of the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom) with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to reinforce his commitment to this country, devastated by war.
The United States will thus sanction three of the television stations controlled directly or indirectly by the regime, and which are the most watched in Russia: Channel One Russia, Television Station Russia-1, and Joint Stock Company NTV.
These stations are among the Russian companies that register the most income from abroad, as explained by a senior US official to NBC News, which ends up financing the Russian regime in one way or another.
[“I wanted to go on Mother’s Day”. Jill Biden visits Ukraine as Russia bombs civilians at a school]
The Biden Administration will also
ban people in the United States from providing
accounting, trust and corporate formation services, or management consulting to anyone in the Russian Federation, in an effort to limit key services to Moscow businesses and elites. , whose wealth generates revenue for Russia and who are trying to hide that money and evade sanctions, the official said.
Biden speaks at the White House on May 4, 2022. Evan Vucci / AP
This decision is based on previously established restrictions against the export of goods in the aerospace, marine, electronics, technology and defense sectors.
In addition, the United States will further limit Russian exports by sanctioning Promtekhnologiya,
a company that produces rifles and other weapons
used in military operations in Ukraine, as well as seven shipping companies and one maritime towing company.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will also suspend licenses for the export of certain nuclear materials to Russia.
The Biden Administration will issue a new regulation to impose additional sanctions on the Russian industrial sector, including a wide range of inputs and equipment, such as wood products, industrial machines and engines, to limit access to those items, as well as income that could be used to finance military actions.
The G7 also pledged to
eliminate or ban imports of Russian oil,
the official said.
[Who is the alleged girlfriend of Vladimir Putin against whom the US has not imposed sanctions]
Security cameras capture when a Russian missile explodes in an amusement park in Ukraine
May 6, 202200:18
The United States also issued new visa restrictions on Russian military officers and authorities backed by the Putin regime allegedly involved in human rights abuses, violations of international humanitarian law or corruption in Ukraine.
The Biden Administration also sanctioned executives at Sberbank, Russia's largest financial institution, as well as Gazprombank, which facilitates the business of Russia's Gazprom, one of the world's largest natural gas exporters, and the Industrial Bank of Russia. Moscow and its subsidiaries.
[The United States provided information to Ukraine for the sinking of the Russian flagship Moskva]
Sanctions against Russia previously imposed by the US and its allies have already taken a significant toll on that country's economy, access to technology and supply chains, the official said, adding that these new ones "will increase these costs”.
They reveal that at least 600 people died after the Russian attack on a theater in Mariupol
May 4, 202200:27
The virtual meeting between the leaders of the world's major economies came at a time when Biden is pressing Congress to approve an additional $33 billion in military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine in anticipation of the war, which began on 24 February when Russia launched an invasion, it dragged on for months.
[The distressing moment that Angelina Jolie lived in Ukraine]
White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Friday noted the importance of the G7 meeting, saying Putin "made known his intention" to use his nation's Victory Day celebrations on Monday to declare victory. Ukraine defeat.
In a video released late on Saturday, Zelenskyy warned that Russia is likely to step up its attack over the weekend.