Editorial
The United States has imposed sanctions on companies in Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and China to prevent the Russian defense industry from easily obtaining sensitive technologies for the continuation of the war in Ukraine.
The measures involved over 250 entities, affecting the Russian economy in a sectoral manner. A provincial bakery converted to the production of drones was also sanctioned. The recent US package was released, coinciding with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Washington, as a sign of support for Kyiv in response to political obstacles from Republicans in Congress who have raised doubts about the future of US military aid.
The sanctions affect both military and civilian companies that have decided to support the Russian war effort.
“We will continue to use the tools at our disposal to promote accountability for Russian crimes in Ukraine and for those who finance and support the Russian war machine”Said Anthony Blinken, United States Secretary of State.
Ukraine's allies are, in fact, particularly concerned about Russia's use of countries such as Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and China for the procurement of high-tech materials in the field of high-end electronics and precision systems.
The US measures also aim to target companies that contributed to the transfer of ammunition and military equipment from North Korea. North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un changed his position in favor of Moscow after a meeting with Putin last September, supplying the Russian armed forces with a considerable number of artillery shells.
However, the main one focus of the United States are the industrial companies that have their headquarters on Russian territory: many of which are civilian companies that have converted to war production. Continued supplies of technologies, from advanced microchips to ball bearings, have helped keep production for artillery, drones and missiles unchanged.
Putin, in fact, boasted in one of his proclamations last week that Ukraine is totally dependent on Western support and therefore condemned to lose the war.
The Financial Times revealed that military exports from Turkey to Russia have increased significantly since Moscow invaded Ukraine. It's a shame that Turkey is also a member country of NATO. The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and other Western partners say these so-called “high priority” goods are items of particular value to the Russian weapons industry. They include microchips, navigation equipment and precision sights.
The new package of sanctions therefore seeks to cut supplies of raw materials and high technologies useful for Moscow to produce weapons systems and ammunition at home. An alternative way to slow down and reduce the military supplies of the countries of the Western bloc, grappling with a no longer hidden disagreement and resentment among public opinion regarding the perpetual military supply in favor of the Ukrainian cause.
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