On Thursday, President Biden’s administration imposed a fresh set of sanctions against Russia, stating that they are in response to cyber-attacks and other hostile activities.
The sanctions targeted dozens of Russian entities, blacklisted several companies, expelled diplomats, and placed limitations on the Russian sovereign debt market.
The statement released by the Biden administration blamed Russia for last year’s SolarWinds hack, and additionally accused Russia of interfering with the 2020 Presidential Elections.
Russia, meanwhile, reacted angrily to the recent sanctions, vowing to respond in kind. Moscow additionally summoned the US Ambassador to the Foreign Ministry for a conversation over the same.
The latest sanctions target 32 entities and officials who are accused of trying to influence the US Elections, along with other acts of misinformation. In addition to this, 10 diplomats, some of who are stated to include spies, have been expelled, and US financial institutions have been forbidden from purchasing rouble-denominated bonds.
Back in February, when President Biden made his first foreign policy speech, he stated that “the days of the United States rolling over in the face of Russia’s aggressive actions… are over”. This was a direct change in foreign policy by the US Government, who under President Trump seldom criticized Russia or Putin.
The United States had also recently warned Russia against military action in Ukraine after Russian forces started building up their military presence in the border area.
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