Here we go again. Idiot-In-Chief Obama just triggered the next stage of the “Ukrainian” conflict. Thus far, I have been 100% correct on all of the developments associated with Russia/Ukraine/West over the last 4 weeks. In my last post on the subject matter I have said, “Russia is done. It will walk away with Crimea and call it a day. The only thing that will change that is further sanctions against Russia”. While the first round of sanctions was laughable (just as the second one), the second round puts Putin in a position where he MUST respond.
And respond he will. Will Russia now go into east Ukraine, turn off gas or retaliate otherwise is yet to be seen. Based on what Putin said in his speech yesterday, it will be something big. I guarantee you that. And here is what drives me crazy….
Obama noted that the measures were being taken in the full knowledge that the move could be “disruptive to the global economy”.
That’s just exactly what we need. Expect Putin to retaliate shortly. Good job team Obama.
US President Barack Obama.(AFP Photo / Saul Loeb)
US puts sanctions on key sectors of Russian economy, top officials, businessmen
“We’re imposing sanctions on more senior officials of the Russian government. In addition, we are today sanctioning a number of other individuals with substantial resources and influence who provide material support to the Russian leadership, as well as a bank that provides material support to these individuals,” Obama said.
The new list of sanctioned officials includes 20 names, according to the list published by the US Department of Treasury.
Aleksey Gromov, First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration; Sergey Ivanov, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office; and Sergey Naryshkin, Speaker of the State Duma, the lower chamber of the Russian Parliament, are among those mentioned.
Prominent businessmen Arkady and Boris Rotenberg are also on the list – as well as the Russian Railways president, Vladimir Yakunin and businessman Gennady Timchenko, head of the Volga Group.
Bank Rossiya identified by the Treasury Department as the sanctioned entity will be “frozen out of the dollar,” Reuters reports quoting US officials. Bank Rossiya, headquartered in St. Petersburg, has some $10 billion in assets. Several senior government officials are known to use the bank, and Kovalchuk, who is its head, has also been sanctioned individually.
The new penalties mark the second round of economic sanctions the US has levied on Russia this week. Obama noted that the measures were being taken in the full knowledge that the move could be “disruptive to the global economy”.
The US president made the announcement just under two hours after the Russian Duma ratified the Treaty for the Accession of Crimea and city of Sevastopol to the Russian Federation.