SAWT BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL

| 20 April 2024, Saturday |

Russia sanctions Biden, Trudeau, US, Canadian officials

In retaliation for Western moves, Russia’s foreign ministry issued sanctions against US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as well as many other people, on Tuesday.

The sanctions, which also target US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, “are the result of Washington’s very Russophobic attitude,” Moscow said in a statement.

Russia’s foreign ministry announced sanctions against 313 Canadians, including Trudeau and several of his ministers, in a separate announcement.

In reaction to Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine, the United States barred Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov from entering the country, as well as imposing financial penalties that effectively cut Russia off from the rest of the world.

Moscow did not elaborate on the measures, which it refers to as “personal sanctions” and a “stop list,” other than to say that they will be based on “the principle of reciprocity.”

US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency William Burns, and White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki are all on the Russian list.

Daleep Singh, the Deputy National Security Advisor, Samantha Power, the Deputy Treasury Secretary Adewale Adeyemo, and Reta Jo Lewis, the CEO of the US Export-Import Bank, are all on the list.

Hunter Biden, Biden’s son, and Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential contender, were both barred from entering Russia.

Moscow will shortly announce further penalties against a number of “Russophobic” US officials, military commanders, lawmakers, businesses, and media figures, according to the foreign ministry.

    Source:
  • AFP