US Imposes Direct Sanctions on Russian President Putin... Western Pressure Intensifies (Comprehensive)

Including the Diplomatic and Security Lines

President Joe Biden of the United States. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The United States and other Western countries have successively imposed sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, who launched an invasion of Ukraine. Designating a head of state as a sanction target is highly unusual, indicating that the West views Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a serious matter.

On the 25th (local time), the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that it had sanctioned President Putin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.

The Treasury stated, "President Putin has joined a very small group that includes tyrants such as North Korean State Chairman Kim Jong-un, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad." It also explained that the U.S. had previously sanctioned 11 members of Russia's National Security Council and warned, "We will continue to make them pay the price." Once sanctioned, all assets within the U.S. are frozen.

Before the U.S., the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom, Canada, and others also announced plans to impose direct sanctions on President Putin and others. Previously, only two heads of state, President Assad and President Lukashenko, were subject to EU sanctions. Germany and Italy initially opposed the sanctions but reportedly changed their stance to support them after Russia intensified its military attacks and pressure on Ukraine.

The U.S. and the EU have been escalating their offensive by imposing sanctions on major Russian banks and implementing export controls on advanced technologies.

Canada also announced through Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's press conference that President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov were sanctioned. Prime Minister Trudeau pointed out, "They bear the greatest responsibility for the destruction and deaths occurring in Ukraine." He added that sanctions would also be imposed on Belarusian leaders cooperating with Russia. Prime Minister Trudeau also expressed support for removing Russia from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) payment network.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.