Support The Moscow Times!

U.S. Extends Sanctions on Russia to 2017

Barack Obama The White House / Wikicommons

U.S. President Barack Obama has extended sanctions on Russia — imposed by Washington over Russia's involvement in the Ukrainian conflict ?€” for another year, according to a decree published on the White House's official website.

Existing measures will stay in place as “Russia's actions continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States,” according to the decree.

The sanctions will be prolonged until March 6, 2017, according to the document.

Obama signed a decree introducing sanctions against a number of large Russian companies and members of President Vladimir Putin's inner circle in March 2014 following Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula and its actions in eastern Ukraine.

Restrictions were also imposed by the European Union and some other Western countries.

The U.S. has repeatedly said that sanctions against Moscow can be lifted after its full implementation of the Minsk peace agreement, aimed at stabilizing the situation in eastern Ukraine.

The deal includes a complete cease-fire, withdrawal of heavy weaponry, restoration of Kiev's control over Ukraine's national borders and holding free elections in the region.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more