US seeks significant tightening of sanctions; Russian capitalists in priority.
The Washington Post reports that the White House is preparing to target a number of Russian capitalists who claim to be close to Putin’s circle.
According to three US government officials, Joe Biden’s government is preparing for a significant increase in sanctions against Russian capitalists with the aim of punishing and increasing pressure on the capitalist circle close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to the Washington Post, officials at the White House and the US Treasury Department are working on a list of names that are expected to overlap with the EU sanctions list against Russian capitalists on Monday.
The Washington Post quoted sources familiar with the process as saying that the White House, for example, was considering imposing sanctions on Alisher Usmanov, the owner of an iron and steel company valued at $ 15 billion by Forbes magazine.
Usmanov was also sanctioned by the European Union on Monday. Sanctions also include travel restrictions and the seizure of billions of dollars worth of their assets abroad.
According to one official who did not want to be named, US sanctions may be more complex than European sanctions, and will include not only these individuals but also their families and the companies they own.
In his speech to the US Congress, US President Joe Biden stressed that the US will join the European Union in the field of sanctions and will confiscate yachts, luxury properties and private jets.
In recent statements, Usmanov-owned steel company Metallovinst has called sanctions against him baseless and unfair.
According to European officials, Russian capitalists control about 30 percent of the country’s national wealth. This rate is about 15% for the United States and Germany. The EU also claims that these individuals have served at the highest levels of the Moscow government or played a key role in the Russian president’s own financing or the Kremlin’s efforts abroad.
