WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Treasury on Thursday imposed a new round of sanctions on companies and ships that used U.S. service providers to transport Russian crude oil in violation of multinational price caps — and imposed another series of sanctions against a group of Balkan citizens. and businesses linked to the Kremlin’s influence in the region.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on three UAE-based companies and blocked three vessels that used U.S. service providers to transport Russian crude oil above the $60 ceiling price.
The sanctions block access to U.S. assets and bank accounts and prevent targeted people and companies from doing business with Americans. The actions on the ships prevent them from transporting goods with U.S. service providers.
The United States, along with the European Union, Group of Seven countries and Australia, last year imposed a $60-a-barrel limit on what Russia could charge for its oil. The cap aims to deprive the Kremlin of the revenue needed to finance its war in Ukraine, forcing the Russian government to either sell its oil at a discount or find an expensive alternative transportation network.
The Treasury in October imposed its first round of sanctions on two companies that shipped Russian oil in violation of a multinational price cap.
“We are determined to maintain market stability despite Russia’s war against Ukraine, while reducing the profits the Kremlin uses to finance its illegal war and remaining unwavering in our pursuit of those who facilitate cap evasion prices,” said Wally Adeyemo. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
A series of sanctions were also announced Thursday against eight individuals and six entities in the Balkans – from Bosnia to North Macedonia – accused of corruption and enabling Russia’s malign influence in the region.
The sanctions include Bosnian politicians, figures accused of organized crime in Montenegro and North Macedonian businesses and executives linked to the sanctioned Russians.
Brian Nelson, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said: “Russia has continued to use its influence in the Western Balkans to prevent the region’s integration into international institutions and organizations, as well as ‘to mobilize key jurisdictions to facilitate its aggressive destabilizing activities. »
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