White House details new sanctions on Russian and Belarusian entities, including targeting Russian oil refining. CNN.

 

                         SERGEY BOBOK/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES

By Donald Judd and Jeremy Herb, CNN

Updated 3:24 PM ET, Wed March 2, 2022

 CNN)The White House on Wednesday detailed a new slate of economic measures levied against Russia and its ally Belarus, condemning Belarus for "enabling (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's invasion of Ukraine."

Among Wednesday's actions are new restrictions extending export control policies to Belarus and preventing diversion of tech and software to Russia through the country, which the administration said "will severely limit the ability of Russia and Belarus to obtain the materials they need to support their military aggression against Ukraine, project power in ways that threaten regional stability and undermine global peace and security."

In addition, the US and allies are identifying 22 Russian "defense-related entities," including firms that provide technological and material support for Russia's military.

The new measures announced Wednesday are the latest round of sanctions against Moscow that the US and its allies have introduced in an attempt to cripple Russia's economy in response to its invasion of Ukraine. Previous rounds have included sanctions related to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany, sanctions against Russia's largest banks and Russia's removal from SWIFT, the high-security network that connects thousands of financial institutions around the world.

On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden announced during the State of the Union address that the US would join other countries in banning Russia's aircraft from US airspace.

In the sanctions announced Wednesday, the US and its allies are also targeting "technology exports" in the oil refining sector, which they say could help the US move toward its goal of "degrading Russia's status as a leading energy supplier over time."

But the White House on Wednesday said it was not yet ready to take a more sweeping measure sanctioning Russian oil, a step that some have called for to inflict maximum punishment on Russia. The White House noted that energy payments have been carved out of financial sanctions, and that sanctions targeting the oil refining industry would harm Russia's economy but protect American consumers.

"We don't have a strategic interest in reducing the global supply of energy," principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One. Jean-Pierre said sanctioning Russian oil "would raise prices at the gas pump for Americans," something that the White House is "very aware of."

Those comments followed Biden's statement earlier Wednesday when he suggested sanctioning Russian oil remained a possibility. "Nothing is off the table," Biden said.

Still, the sanctions that have been rolled out over the past week since Russia's invasion began have underscored the united front between the US and its European allies in an effort to stand up to Moscow's aggression. Even countries like Switzerland, which has famously remained neutral amid conflicts, announced this week it would impose sanctions on Russia.

In a statement announcing Wednesday's additional sanctions, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo called accounts coming out of Ukraine "heart wrenching -- both due to the brutality of the Russian assault, and for the amazing resolve of the Ukrainian people."

The new round of White House sanctions target Belarus, too, the country north of Ukraine that has played a key role aiding Russia's attack. Russian troops were stationed in Belarus prior to the attack on Ukraine, which the two countries had claimed were for exercises. Using Belarus' border has been strategically advantageous to Russia because its border with Ukraine is much closer to Kyiv than Russia's border, providing a shorter pathway for Russian troops to reach the Ukrainian capital.

"We will choke off Belarus's ability to import key technologies," Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters Wednesday. "And if (President Alexander) Lukashenko's support for the war continues, the consequences for his regime will escalate."

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KEEP IT UP: ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS!!!!

-DAVID.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE TRUE NATURE OF GOP LEADERSHIP.

DEFINITION: SCUMBAG:- a contemptible or objectionable person.

EXAMPLE- GOVERNOR/OBERFUHRER OF FLORIDA RON DESANTIS.

As you watch this, ask yourself which of those individuals in the clip

are the Mature Responsible Adults, and which one is an Immature Fascist Scumbag. 

https://twitter.com/i/status/1499095230141775872

CONDEMNING SOCIOPATHS WHO ARE HEADS OF STATES DOES NOT MEAN MUCH. UNLESS...ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.

 

UN General Assembly votes to condemn Russia over invasion of Ukraine

Moscow released Russia's first death toll since the start of the invasion, saying at least 498 Russian troops have been killed in Ukraine as the Ukrainian civilian death toll climbs to more than 2,000, per the country's emergency service. After a Russian strike on a TV tower, air raid sirens rang in the capital Kyiv on Wednesday. According to Ukraine’s military, Russian paratroopers landed in Kharkiv, the country's second-largest city. Kharkiv's mayor said on Wednesday multiple people were killed and more than 100 were injured overnight. In the south, Russian troops surrounded the city of Kherson, but the mayor claims it is still under Ukrainian control.

As long as the PUTINS and TRUMPS of this world are allowed to commit Criminal Acts without repercussions, nothing will change. REMEMBER, these Individuals, and their supporters, are ENEMIES OF HUMANITY, AND OF ALL PEOPLES EVERYWHERE. 

Right now, you can imagine PUTIN, and His Allies, laughing at this CONDEMNATION. Perhaps saying to themselves something like; "Well U.N.; WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?" 

Answer me this: HOW MANY OF HISTORIES TYRANTS AND DICTATORS WERE STOPPED BY WORDS ALONE? 

Don't get me wrong, the U.S. has no reason to play the MORAL SUPERIORITY CARD. Without the Corruption, and the MORAL AND INTELLECTUAL COWARDICE of those who knew what TRUMP was doing, and had the ability to expose him for the FASCIST SOCIOPATH THAT HE IS, BUT DID NOTHING, "FUEHRER" DONALD WOULD HAVE HAVE BEEN RELEGATED TO THE GUTTER WHERE HE AND HIS SUPPORTERS BELONG, PREVENTING HIS ASCENDANCY TO POWER IN THE U.S.

We are not at war with other Nations, but with an ETHICAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY that desires to Enslave, Intellectually Cripple, and Morally Bankrupt all of Humanity.

SO TRUE...

From the latest reports, we can at least point to one positive message being sent by THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE.

THAT VLADIMIR PUTIN DOES NOT REPRESENT THE ATTITUDES AND MORALS OF THE AVERAGE RUSSIAN CITIZEN, ANYMORE THAN DONALD TRUMP REPRESENTED THE ATTITUDES AND MORALS OF THE AVERAGE AMERICAN.

They are in power because of BOGUS AND UNCHALLENGED ELECTION RESULTS. WHEN THE OPPOSITION AND ELECTION OFFICIALS IGNORE OBVIOUS IMPROPRITIES IN HOW VOTES ARE ACCUMULATED AND COUNTED, THE DOOR IS HELD OPEN FOR NARCISSISTIC SOCIOPATHS LIKE PUTIN, TRUMP, AND THEIR GANGS OF THUGS, SYCHOPHANTS, TRAITORS, FASCISTS etc., TO SEIZE POWER AND WREAK HAVOC ON ALL NATIONS.

No matter where you find them, these supporters have the following in common: THEY HATE HUMANITY. THEY THRIVE ON THE MISERY AND PAIN THEY CAUSE TO OTHERS. THEY BELIEVE POLITICS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY OF GETTING WHAT THEY WANT, AND HURTING OTHERS IS JUST AN ADDED INCENTIVE. CONCEPTS LIKE COMPASSION, JUSTICE, EQUALITY, EVEN LOVE...ARE MEANINGLESS TO THEM, EXCEPT WHEN THEY ARE USED TO EXPLOIT OTHERS. 

"GOOD" AND "JUST" PEOPLE OF ALL NATIONS MUST COME TOGETHER AND REALIZE THAT THERE HAS BEEN, AND MAY ALWAYS BE, A SEGMENT OF HUMANITY THAT EXISTS WITH ONE GOAL IN MIND:

TO GET WHAT I WANT, WHEN I WANT IT, AND TOO BAD FOR ALL THOSE WHO MAY SUFFER FOR IT. THESE SUCKERS ARE NOT TO BE PITIED, FOR THEY ARE JUST PITIFUL.