Nuland: The State Department will support the easing of sanctions against Russia if Moscow withdraws troops from Ukraine US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said at a Senate hearing that Washington is ready to ease pressure against Moscow if the Russian military leaves the territory of Ukraine.
At the same time, the US Treasury has imposed new sanctions against Russian legal entities and individuals, the list includes ship repair companies, structures and persons associated with the Wagner PMCs. The head of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and his wife, as well as the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov, were also sanctioned. [...]
The United States could ease anti-Russian sanctions if Russia withdraws troops from the territory of Ukraine, US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said at a Senate hearing. According to her, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken holds a similar position.
- she said. In addition, the official confirmed that the United States wants to achieve the return of the territories that became part of Russia under the control of the government of Ukraine.
However, the head of the Russian delegation at the Vienna talks on military security and arms control, Konstantin Gavrilov, commenting on Nuland's words, said that he did not see Washington's readiness for dialogue.
"As our leaders, the president, and Minister [Foreign Affairs] Lavrov have stated, we are ready for serious negotiations without a fig in our pocket. But while I personally am here in Vienna, we see these negotiations, I don't hear any such signals that Nuland has sent right now," he said.
New sanctions of the Ministry of Finance
Today, on January 26, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Treasury (OFAC) announced a new package of sanctions against Russia, which is aimed at weakening Russia's ability to conduct a special operation in Ukraine, according to the ministry's website.
"As sanctions and export controls against Russia continue to operate, the Kremlin is desperately looking for weapons and support - including through the Wagner group - to continue [the special operation]. Sanctions against the Wagner PMCs, as well as sanctions against their partners and other companies providing the Russian military-industrial complex, will further complicate the ability to equip the [Russian] military machine," the words of the head of the department Janet Yellen are quoted in the text of the Ministry of Finance.
Transnational criminal organization
The text of the Ministry of Finance notes that the Wagner PMCs is involved not only in a special operation in Ukraine, but has also been seen in "destabilizing activities" in African countries.
"Today, sanctions are being re-announced against the Wagner Group for being a foreign structure representing a significant transnational criminal organization," the press release says.
The list of companies associated with Wagner that have been sanctioned includes:
- Terra Tech and JSC "BARL", the Chinese Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute Co. LTD together with the Luxembourg "daughter" Spacety Luxembourg S.A. - for providing, allegedly, satellite images for PMCs.
- "Commonwealth of Officers for International Security" and Sewa Security Services - The Ministry of Finance believes that these companies act as a "proxy" of Wagner in the CAR, which, according to the United States, act on behalf of Wagner in the CAR.
- Kratol Aviation - a company registered in the UAE is accused of providing aircraft to Wagner for the transfer of fighters and equipment between the CAR, Libya and Mali.
Also included in the list is the organization Africa Politology.
The list of sub - sanctioned individuals includes:Alexander Ivanov is a citizen of the Russian Federation, director of the Commonwealth of Officers for International Security.
Valery Zakharov is a citizen of the Russian Federation, an employee of the Wagner Group Private security company, ex-adviser to the President of the CAR on national security.
Sanctions against the "defense industry"
Companies and individuals associated with the Russian defense industry, which were identified under the sanctions of the US Treasury:
- Aviakon Cytotrans JSC is a Russian private cargo charter airline engaged in the transportation of bulky cargo. According to the website of the Ministry of Finance, "Aviacon supplies military equipment, such as missiles, warheads and spare parts for helicopters, all over the world"
- JSC "Ural Civil Aviation Plant" (UZGA) - for the development of the Altair UAV and, allegedly, the involvement of the company's personnel in the repair of UAVs participating in the SVO in Ukraine.
- JSC "National Aviation Service Company" (NASK, part of Rostec) - for intermediary services in servicing Russian military aircraft supplied abroad.
- Prima Scientific and Production Enterprise LLC - the company is engaged in the development and production of radio communication equipment for aircraft, the US Treasury has introduced the company under the sanctions of the Federal Security Service to work in the interests of the FSB and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
- Denis Manturov - Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.
The Minister has already commented on getting on the sanctions list. "For me personally, it doesn't matter at all. Rather, he was surprised by the slowness of the Americans in this matter," the Ministry of Industry and Trade quotes him as saying.
- Alan Lushnikov is the main owner of the Kalashnikov Concern.
- LLC "TKH-Invest" is a company, as stated on the website of the US Treasury, through which Lushnikov owns an arms concern.
- JSC "Concern of East Kazakhstan Region Almaz - Antey" (part of Rostec) - for the development of air defense systems.
- Yan Novikov is a citizen of the Russian Federation, CEO of Almaz-Antey.
- 30th and 179th ship repair plants (both are part of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation);
- Far Eastern Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Center (DCSS, part of PJSC "NK "Rosneft);
- Zvezda Plant (part of the DCSS);
- North-Eastern Repair Center (part of the DCSS);
- Dalzavod Ship Repair Center (part of the DCSS);
- Central Design Bureau "Lazurit" (part of the DCSS);
"Putin's confidants" and others
The sanctions list, as they are called in the press release of the US Treasury, "Putin's confidants and their families", included:
- Rustam Minnikhanov is a citizen of the Russian Federation, head of the Republic of Tatarstan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of PJSC Tupolev. He was sanctioned for working in the interests of the defense of the Russian Federation.
- Gulsina Minnikhanov is the wife of Rustam Minnikhanov. She was sanctioned due to her marital status.
The list of the Ministry of Finance also includes persons who are allegedly connected with the establishment of state power in the new subjects of the Russian Federation. It included Alexander Kharichev, head of the Presidential Administration for Ensuring the activities of the State Council of the Russian Federation, and Boris Rapoport, director of the Government Department for the formation of the Open Government system.
Also under sanctions were the founder of Yota Sergey Adonyev and his sons Philip and Luke, a member of the board of Directors of Norilsk Nickel Sergey Batekhin, director of the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) Arkady Gostev, head of the Rostov department of the FSIN Dmitry Bezrukikh, chairman of the election committee of the Rostov region Andrey Burov, CEO of Charter Green Light Moscow Alexey Malyarevich.
The list also includes the companies Interros Capital and Interros Invest.
Mikhail Rodionov
