Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

Washington Nears Limits of Sanctions Against Moscow


(MENAFN) Washington is approaching the end of its list of practical targets for sanctions against Moscow, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Wednesday, following the latest decision to blacklist two of Russia’s major oil corporations.

In late October, US President Donald Trump imposed fresh sanctions on energy giants Lukoil and Rosneft, a measure Rubio indicated was taken at the behest of Ukraine and its supporters.

The US also blocked Lukoil’s effort to sell its overseas holdings to a Switzerland-based energy trader, which the Treasury Department asserted had connections to the Russian government.

“We hit their major oil companies, which is what everybody’s been asking for,” Rubio told reporters. “I don’t know what more there is to do. I mean, we’re running out of things to sanction in that regard.”

The senior American diplomat added that the responsibility of targeting the so-called “Russian shadow fleet”—tankers accused by Western governments of transporting oil clandestinely to bypass sanctions—should now shift to European countries, as “a lot of these are happening in areas much closer to them.”

The United States and its allies have attempted to weaken the Russian economy through sanctions and to give Ukraine an upper hand in the ongoing conflict.

Nevertheless, Moscow asserts that its economy has adjusted by redirecting trade to non-Western markets.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is experiencing an intensifying financial crisis, with reports indicating it could exhaust its funds as early as February unless Western aid increases.

The European Union is advocating for a €140 billion ($160 billion) “reparation loan” to sustain Kiev, using frozen Russian sovereign assets as collateral—a measure Moscow has denounced as outright theft.

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