The sanctions imposed by the US Treasury Department and the US State Department target Russia’s military-industrial base, chemical weapons programs and people and companies in third countries that help Russia buy weapons components.
The sanctions were introduced when the Senate approved a ban on importing Russian uranium. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into law.
According to the US Energy Information Administration, about 12% of the uranium used to generate electricity in US nuclear power plants is imported from Russia. A National Security Council spokesman said Wednesday that Biden, a Democrat, shares lawmakers’ concerns about the U.S.’s dependence on Russia for uranium supplies.
The new sanctions apply to importers of cotton pulp and nitrocellulose. These materials are used in the production of gunpowder and explosives. Russian government entities and individuals associated with Russia’s chemical and biological weapons programs and companies associated with Russian natural gas projects are also subject to sanctions.
The “blacklist” also includes 16 targets in China and Hong Kong. Most of them are related to sanctions evasion.
Companies in countries such as China, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Slovakia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates have been accused of helping Russia buy technology and equipment from abroad. The purpose of the sanctions is to block these countries’ ability to use the US financial system and prohibit US citizens from doing business with these countries.
