US sanctions Kremlin press secretary, seven Russian business leaders
The United States has imposed sanctions on Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov and seven Russian business leaders and their families in response to Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.
A senior administration official said the US and allies are “targeting additional Russian elites and family members who continue supporting President Vladimir Putin”.
The official added that the sanctions target those who are active in the oil and real estate sectors. He noted all of the individuals “will be cut off from the US financial system” and see their assets in the US frozen, with any property they hold “blocked from use”.
"These are significant steps that will impact the people who are closely around President Putin," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters. "We want him to feel the squeeze. We want the people around him to feel the squeeze."
The United States will also impose visa restrictions on 19 Russian business leaders, their family members and associates, the White House said in a statement.
Last Thursday, Putin announced a “special military operation” aimed at “demilitarization” of the Donetsk and Lugansk Republics in eastern Ukraine.
Announcing the operation, the Russian president said the mission was aimed at “defending people who for eight years are suffering persecution and genocide by the Kiev regime.”
So far, Russian forces have been advancing towards Kiev and seizing control of a number of towns and cities along the way. Authorities in Moscow have denied claims made by Ukrainian and Western officials of civilian areas being targeted by the Russian military.
Washington has imposed several rounds of sanctions, including against Putin and the central bank. US President Joe Biden said the sanctions would limit Russia's ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds and yen.
In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Biden announced that the United States will ban Russian flights from US airspace, joining an increasing number of countries that are closing their skies to Russia.
"Tonight I'm announcing that we will join our allies in closing off American airspace to all Russian flights, further isolating Russia and adding additional squeeze on their economy," Biden said in his State of the Union address on Tuesday.
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