The Biden administration is enacting a round of new sanctions on Friday aimed at further crippling Russia’s defence and technology sectors and other industries, as well as cutting off more top officials and their families from global commerce, to punish Moscow for its efforts to annex a region in eastern Ukraine.

The treasury and commerce departments will impose sanctions and export controls on any companies, institutions or people who “provide political or economic support to Russia for its purported annexation”, White House officials said.

The treasury department is also enacting sanctions against 14 international companies for supporting supply chains of the Russian military and putting nearly 300 MPs on a sanctions list, officials said.

And it is listing Elvira Sakhipzadovna Nabiullina, the governor of the Central Bank of Russia, and Olga Nikolaevna Skorobogatova, the first deputy governor of the bank, as well as relatives of members of the National Security Council.

US agencies, had already put security council members on sanctions lists. The state department is imposing visa restrictions on more than 900 Russian officials.

Kyiv seeks Nato entry

President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to Russia’s claims by announcing Ukraine is applying for membership in the Nato.

“We are taking our decisive step by signing Ukraine’s application for accelerated accession to Nato,” Zelensky said in a statement. He said Ukraine was already cooperating closely with Nato.

New York Times News Service