U.S. Steps Up To Uphold Russia Sanctions, To Close Loopholes

The Biden Administration said on Monday that it's pushing to ensure Russia sanctions are effective, closing loopholes, lobbying other nations for support, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

The move comes as the U.S Treasury on Saturday warned Turkey that Russian entities and individuals were attempting to use the country to bypass Western sanctions imposed over Moscow's war in Ukraine.

"Senior officials do regularly engage with counterparts, including in person, around the world to share information to see to it that collectively we're doing all we can to uphold the existing sanctions regime, to close loopholes and escape hatches where they may exist, and to work together with partners to identify potential additional targets that we can pursue against Russia to continue to promote that accountability," State Department spokesperson Ned Price told TURAN's correspondent during daily briefing on Monday.

When asked if Washington reached out to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia over concerns that Russian individuals and entities have been engaged in the same activity in the South Caucasus, Price said in general, "these are discussions that we've had in many places around the globe."

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.