New financial restrictions will be imposed,
In response to Moscow’s suspected interference in the presidential elections and the SolarWinds cyber intrusion, US President Joe Biden’s administration is expected to announce sanctions against Russia.
According to CNN, the sanctions will threaten intelligence and government officials as well as organisations involved in the SolarWinds cyber attack and suspected election interference in 2016.
‘One reason the rollout of these actions has taken longer than anticipated is because the White House was not satisfied with the options the State Department initially presented and wanted more expanded sanctions,’ a US official familiar with the plans told CNN.
During Biden’s first week in office, the White House announced an intelligence analysis of Russia’s ‘reckless and adversarial behavior’ in a variety of areas.
According to a source familiar with the situation, the administration plans to take action against Russia on Thursday and is working with European allies.
According to officials, the actions will be implemented by an executive order from the US President as well as sanctions coordinated with the State Department and the Treasury Department. Officials from the State Department have contacted US allies and are preparing for possible Russian retaliation.
The Russian diplomats being expelled are based in Washington, DC, and New York, and they will have 30 days to leave the country, according to a US official familiar with the plans.
New financial restrictions will be imposed, including attempts to target Russian sovereign debt, which could damage Russia’s economy. According to the officials, it is unclear whether these sanctions would be sufficient to alter Russian actions.
