Washington:

US officials on Wednesday announced fresh sanctions aimed at crippling Russia’s military and industrial capabilities, punishing companies in China and elsewhere that help Moscow acquire weapons for its war in Ukraine.

In a sweeping package announced by the US Treasury Department, Washington targeted nearly 300 entities in Russia, China and other countries accused of supporting President Vladimir Putin’s invasion.

“Treasury has consistently warned that companies will face significant consequences for providing material support for Russia’s war,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.

“Today’s actions will further disrupt and degrade Russia’s war efforts by going after its military industrial base and the evasion networks that help supply it.”

The latest wave of sanctions came a week after US President Joe Biden signed a much-delayed bill to provide new funding for Ukraine as Kyiv’s military struggles to hold back Russian advances.

“Even as we’re throwing sand in the gears of Russia’s war machine, President (Joe) Biden’s recently-passed National Security Supplemental is providing badly-needed military, economic, and humanitarian support to bolster Ukraine’s courageous resistance,” Yellen said.

“Combined, our support for Ukraine and our relentless targeting of Russia’s military capacity is giving Ukraine a critical leg-up on the battlefield.”

As part of the measures, the State Department blacklisted additional individuals and companies involved in Moscow’s energy, mining and metals sectors.

The sanctions also targeted individuals connected to the death of Russian opposition leader Aleksey Navalny who died in a Siberian prison in February, the statement said.

The almost 300 targets hit included dozens of actors accused of enabling Russia to acquire desperately needed technology and equipment from abroad, the Treasury said.

Some of those targeted were based in countries such as China that have faced increasing pressure from Washington over support for Russia during its 15-month invasion of Ukraine.

“The United States, along with many international partners, is particularly concerned about entities based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and other third countries that provide critical inputs to Russia’s military-industrial base,” the Treasury statement said.

“This support enables Russia to continue its war against Ukraine and poses a significant threat to international security.”

Other than China, targeted non-Russian entities were located in Azerbaijan, Belgium, Slovakia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

These companies “enable Russia to acquire desperately-needed technology and equipment from abroad,” the statement said.

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Washington:

The United States blacklisted 14 Russian oil tankers Friday as it sought to cut Moscow’s petroleum revenues by enforcing a price cap imposed by the West after the Ukraine invasion.

The Treasury Department imposed sanctions on state-run shipping company Sovcomflot and said it was giving 45 days for the offloading of oil or other cargo from 14 of its ships before enforcement.

The price ceiling is aimed at limiting Kremlin profits while still allowing supplies to energy markets.

“Today, we take the next step by targeting Russia’s largest state-owned shipping company and fleet operator, dealing a huge blow to their shadow operations,” Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said in a statement.

“We are entering the next phase of increasing Russia’s costs in a responsible manner to mitigate risks,” he added.

Previously, a coalition involving the Group of Seven leading economies, the European Union and Australia set a price cap of $60 per barrel of Russian crude.

But a senior Treasury official told reporters Friday that the Kremlin has sought to evade the cap by investing in a “shadow fleet” of energy market trading infrastructure.

This operated outside of coalition services, allowing Moscow to earn higher prices on its oil in the summer and fall.

That is why Washington is focused on intensifying enforcement actions while also “increasing the cost to Russia of using that shadow fleet, of moving oil outside the price cap’s reach,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

Since the price ceiling was enacted, Russia has seen revenue fall.

The actions come on the eve of the second anniversary since Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)