4/6/2018

RUSSIA/SANCTIONS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The United States punished dozens of Russian oligarchs and government officials on Friday [4-6-18] with sanctions that took direct aim at President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, as President Donald Trump’s administration tried to show he’s not afraid to take tough action against Moscow. Seven Russian tycoons, including aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska, were targeted, along with 17 officials and a dozen Russian companies, the Treasury Department said. Senior Trump administration officials cast it as part of a concerted, ongoing effort to push back on Putin, emphasizing that since Trump took office last year, the U.S. has punished 189 Russia-related people and entities with sanctions… The officials ticked through a list of complaints about Russia’s actions beyond its borders, including its annexation of Crimea, backing of separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine, support for Syrian President Bashar Assad, and cyber-hacking.”

-Josh Lederman, “US takes aim at Putin’s allies in Russia with new sanctions,” The Associated Press, April 6, 2018, 1:00 pm