U.S. adds 11 companies to Russia sanctions list

The U.S. Commerce Department announced on Sept. 7 it added 11 companies to the list of those targeted for sanctions in relation to the Russian annexation of Crimea and military aggression in occupied Donbas. They have been added to the list published on Sept. 1, which consisted of 81 companies under 86 names. Most of these companies are based in Russia and included Gazprom subsidiaries and firms involved in constructing a bridge from the Russian mainland across the Kerch Strait.

Expanded sanctions are intended to strengthen existing sanctions and shouldn’t be viewed as intensified economic pressure against the Russian government, said on Sept. 7 Mark Toner, the deputy spokesman for the U.S. State Department. “We are constantly working to close loopholes,” he said, adding they’re not related to talks between Presidents Obama and Putin at the G20 summit.

The Russian government didn’t see it that way as presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed regret the sanctions were expanded in the days following their meeting. “This is seriously discordant with the themes of possible cooperation in sensitive spheres that were discussed at the meeting of both presidents,” Peskov said in response to the sanctions. The expanded sanctions don’t support developing relations between the two countries, he added.

Zenon Zawada: It’s positive to see expanded sanctions but their timing certainly lends to speculation that they’re related to geopolitical events. Nonetheless, Western governments have to take measures to ensure that they’re effective. Otherwise, the Russian government will be emboldened to continue its military aggression in Ukraine. It is currently lobbying to remove the sanctions in Western governments.