"Atrocities (by the Russians) against civilians appear to be escalating, so it is certainly appropriate that we work with our allies to consider further sanctions," Joe Biden's economy minister said during a briefing. Washington Post video interview.

She also considered that the sanctions imposed to date have "devastated" the Russian economy.

"We have isolated Russia financially. The ruble is in free fall, the Russian Stock Exchange is closed. Russia has been effectively excluded from the international financial system", recalled the Treasury Secretary.

And Russia's "war chest", the $600 billion in foreign currency reserves amassed to cushion such a shock, has been rendered "almost unusable", she said.

Ms Yellen also believes that the lifeline for Russia will not come from Beijing: "financial institutions in China do business in dollars and euros and they are worried about the impact of sanctions or do not want to violate sanctions ".

They are therefore "reluctant to do business with Russia", she said.

For the time being, China does not "significantly" compensate for the sanctions put in place.

© 2022 AFP