U.S. announces further tech and defense sanctions on Russia and Belarus

Washington — The US government has announced further sanctions on Russia and the introduction of strict controls on the export of high-tech products to Belarus.

The new sanctions target 22 Russian defense companies, the White House said. In addition, export controls would be introduced for technologies that Russia needs in the long term for refineries to process oil and gas.

"We and our allies and partners share a strong interest in degrading Russia's status as a leading energy supplier over time. These actions will help further that goal, while protecting American consumers," a White House statement said.

The sanctions go after "Russia’s most important sources of wealth," the statement said.

The strict export controls already imposed on Russia for high-tech products such as semiconductors, software and parts for the aerospace industry would soon also apply to Belarus, it added.

This will prevent Moscow from using its partners in Minsk to circumvent US export controls. It will also "significantly degrade both countries’ ability to sustain their military aggression and project power."

The Commerce Department will soon classify Belarusian defense companies and research institutions with ties to the military or security forces so that they can no longer benefit from US technology exports, it added.

©2022 dpa GmbH. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.