West Considers Almost Total Ban On Exports To Russia Over Ukraine

The Biden Administration on Friday refrained from commenting on media reports suggesting the Group of Seven world's largest advanced economies are reportedly considering a near-total ban on exports to Russia.

"I am certainly not going to get ahead of any announcement," Vedant Patel, the State Department's principal deputy spokesperson, told TURAN's Washington correspondent during a daily briefing.

The G7 countries have already stopped exporting a wide range of items to Russia, including products that can be used for military purposes and luxury goods. But yesterday, the Japanese media, citing government sources, suggested that the latest plan, which is slated to be adopted during the upcoming G7 Summit in Japan, could expand the trade embargo to used cars, tires, cosmetic items and clothing.

At the State Department, diplomats remind that actions by the U.S, its allies and partners — sanctions, export controls, other measures — have had a clear effect on Russia and its economy.

Patel went on to explain further: "You are seeing Russia’s GDP shrinking. You are seeing multinational corporations choosing to leave Russia, choosing to do business elsewhere. So the actions that we’re taking are having an impact... and we’ll continue to keep the drumbeat of that alive so that we can continue to hold Russia accountable while also empowering our Ukrainian partners."

"But I don’t have any other specifics to get into right now," he added immediately.

TURAN also asked Patel about  Sergey Lavrov's latest statements during his visit to Cuba, where he condemned the western sanctions claiming that "Americans declared a crusade against Russia, its culture and traditions."

"Let’s not lose sight of what’s happening here," Patel said in response.

He explained: "In the context of Russia-Ukraine, Russia is trying to totally erase and infringe the borders of another country, Ukraine. And they’re doing so by throwing the rules of the UN Charter, the rules of an international based, rules-based order, out the window. They are doing so with aggression. They are doing so by essentially wreaking havoc on civilian infrastructure across Ukraine....  There are widespread reports of Russian armed forces committing atrocities."

The U.S, will continue to take steps to support Ukrainian partners "so that they can continue to defend their territorial integrity and sovereignty, Patel concluded.

Lavrov will take the helm of the UN Security Council on Monday as the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine appears to have no end in sight.

Alex Raufoglu