U.S. Seeks To Discourage Against Russian Sanction Evasion

Washington D.C./21.06.23/Turan:   The Biden Administration is trying to step up enforcement of sanctions against Russia over its brutal war in Ukraine — seeking to discourage countries from helping the Kremlin evade sanctions, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

"We don’t want to see anybody try to skirt these sanctions. We want to see Mr. Putin held to account and the Kremlin held to account," White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said on Tuesday when responding to TURAN's questions. 

"This is why we have constant dialogue with allies and partners and friends in the region and around the world," Kirby went on to add. "...Obviously every nation has to make these decisions for themselves, but our view has been very clear. We want to see all the international sanctions ascribed to and enforced appropriately so that Mr. Putin can’t benefit.  And we have no compunction about having conversations privately with allies, partners, and friends throughout the world, certainly on the European continent, about our concerns in that regard," he said.

Washington has raised alarm bells that certain traders are using countries such as Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Turkey to evade sanctions on Russia.

Kirby was speaking to reporters on Tuesday at the State Department's Washington Foreign Press Center to preview the upcoming state visit of Indian PM Narendra Modi.

President Biden and congressional leaders will roll out the red carpet for PM Modi tomorrow as he will address a joint session of Congress and will be feted at a White House state dinner — a diplomatic honor usually reserved for close allies.

When asked by TURAN about India's increasing oil imports from Russia, which allows Putin to fund his war in Ukraine, Kirby acknowledged that the issue will be raised by the Biden administration during the state visit, adding that Ukraine is “without question” going to be a topic of discussion.

However, he emphasized that Washington would make Indian sovereignty a priority in the discussions, noting that India “should and must speak for itself” on where it stands.

"... And as I’ve said earlier, President Biden never shies away, nor would you expect him to, from having conversations with foreign leaders about issues that – on which we don’t always see eye to eye. That’s important. That’s why you have visits. That’s why you have meetings.  That’s why you have these discussions so that you can work through all of those things," he concluded.

Alex Raufoglu