Engaging in "strength status" again? Biden may impose sanctions on Russia before calling Putin
According to a CNN report on December 6, citing sources familiar with the matter, Biden’s administration officials are currently exchanging views on whether to impose a series of extensive sanctions on Russia before Biden’s call with Putin, on the grounds that “to prevent Russia’s invasion” Ukraine".
People familiar with the matter said that the sanctions imposed by the Biden administration on Russia will target members of Putin’s core group, Russian energy producers and Russian banks, and will target Russia’s top oligarchs, restrict their travel capabilities, and cut off the oligarchs’ access to the U.S. bank and credit card system. .
The US media quoted the latest findings of the US intelligence agency, saying that Russia has assembled 175,000 soldiers along the border with Ukraine and established a supply line that can sustain long-term armed conflicts.
U.S. President Biden stated on December 3 that he was formulating a set of "the most comprehensive and meaningful" measures to "make Russia abandon its attack on Ukraine."
Currently, Biden is scheduled to have a video call with Putin on December 7.
People familiar with the matter also revealed that the Biden administration is currently communicating with European allies that have close economic relations with Russia, hoping to jointly impose sanctions on Russia.
It is reported that the Biden administration has not yet made a final decision on whether and when to impose sanctions on Russia.
The United States and other Western countries began to warn Russia of building new troops near the Uzbek border last month, saying that Russia may "invade" in the winter.
The Kremlin denied these claims and blamed the escalating tensions on the West.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov also stated on the 2nd of this month that although Russia and the United States have great differences, the two countries are very important to global security and stability and must adopt a responsible attitude.
After the leaders of the two countries met in Geneva, Switzerland in June this year, the two sides began a strategic stability dialogue. It is expected that the third round of dialogue will be held in the near future.
In April 2014, a large-scale conflict broke out between Uzbek government forces and civilian armed forces in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine.
With the mediation of the international community, the two parties to the conflict reached a ceasefire agreement in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, in September 2014 and February 2015 respectively. Since then, large-scale armed conflicts have been brought under control, but small-scale exchanges of fire have occurred from time to time.
(CCTV reporter Xu Dezhi)