Joe Biden announces US ban on Russian seafood, alcohol and diamonds

Elly Blake11 March 2022

Joe Biden announced further sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine on Friday, as the war entered its 16th day.

The US President said there will be a ban on imports of Russian alcohol, seafood and diamonds, which are some of the country’s most valuable exports.

He also said the US will dramatically downgrade its trade status with Russia as punishment for its invasion.

The move to revoke “most favoured nation” status for Russia was taken in coordination with the European Union and G7 countries.

“The free world is coming together to confront Putin,” Mr Biden said.

Stripping most favoured nation status from Russia would allow the US and allies to impose higher tariffs on some Russian imports.

Other Western sanctions have already dealt a severe blow to Russia, causing the rouble to plunge, foreign businesses to flee and prices to rise sharply.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has insisted Russia can endure sanctions.

Joe Biden speaking on Friday
Getty Images

Mr Biden described Mr Putin as an “aggressor” who “must pay a price”.

He also announced the US will add the names of several more Russian oligarchs to the list of sanctioned individuals and ramp up efforts to freeze their “ill-begotten gains”.

In addition to seizing their “superyachts” and vacation homes, the US leader said his administration was also banning the export of luxury goods to Russia.

He said it was the latest but “not the last step we’re going to take”, adding it would be “another crushing blow” to the Russian economy.

Vladimir Putin “cannot pursue a war that threatens the very foundations of international peace and stability, and then ask for financial help from the international community”, Mr Biden said.

It comes as Russia widened its offensive in Ukraine on Friday, striking airfields in the west and an industrial city in the east.

Meanwhile, a huge armoured column that had been stalled for over a week outside Kyiv was on the move again, spreading out into forests and towns near the capital.

With the invasion now in its 16th day, Russia appeared to be trying to regroup and regain momentum, with expanded bombardment and a tightening of its stranglehold on cities like Mariupol, the strategic seaport where civilians struggled to find food amid an intense 10-day-old siege.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said there have been “certain positive developments” in Russia-Ukraine talks but gave no details.

He told Belarus’ leader Alexander Lukashenko that negotiations were being held “almost on a daily basis”.

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