Trump extends Russian sanctions, cites ongoing security threat
The administration of President Donald Trump has announced the continuation of the state of emergency, which was initially introduced by Joe Biden's team in response to actions by the Russian government deemed harmful. This decision results in a one-year extension of the existing sanctions targeting the Russian Federation.
An official announcement on this matter has been published in the government's "Federal Register". The document refers to executive orders issued by former President Joe Biden in 2021 and 2022.
The Democrat declared a state of emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This action was in response to an "unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States". It addressed the "harmful foreign activities of the Russian government".
These activities included interference in democratic electoral processes, conducting cyberattacks targeting America and its allies, using corruption to influence the governments of other countries, and attacks on individuals with opposing views and media representatives.
Other accusations included undermining security in countries and regions significant to the national security of the USA, as well as violating international law norms, including the principle of territorial integrity of sovereign states.
This situation continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States, as emphasized in the published document. This justifies maintaining the existing emergency measures for another year.
USA blocks Russian assets
President Biden's decree to declare a state of emergency was primarily aimed at blocking Russian assets under US jurisdiction and imposing economic sanctions.
According to Fox News sources, the incumbent president has concluded that Putin is deliberately delaying a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As a result, the administration in Washington is considering tightening the current sanctions against Russia. Trump himself had personally threatened to impose so-called secondary sanctions on countries that purchase Russian oil.
