Biden adds Nord Stream 2 sanctions in response to Russia’s Ukraine invasion

As Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, the Biden administration Wednesday added to its economic sanctions package targeting Moscow by allowing previously blocked penalties to take effect against the company behind the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

Announcing the sanctions in a statement, Biden emphasized that the U.S. “will not hesitate to take further steps if Russia continues to escalate.”

Additional sanctions, following the initial package announced Tuesday, came amid unmistakable signals that Russian President Vladimir Putin is escalating his invasion of Ukraine. Putin on Monday formally recognized two separatist territories in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, Donetsk and Luhansk, as independent, and the upper house of Russia’s parliament on Tuesday approved the deployment of troops.

A senior Defense Department official said that while U.S. officials are still confirming Russian troop movements, those forces are “as ready as they can be” to launch a full invasion. “They are dang near 100%,” said the official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive details. “They’re in a three-point stance and ready to go.”

Fuente consultada https://www.latimes.com