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Ukraine: What sanctions are being imposed on Russia? Ukraine: What sanctions are being imposed on Russia?
(1 day later)
Western nations are imposing increasingly severe sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The US government has banned Russian flights from American airspace.
The measures are designed to cripple Russia's economy and punish its government for taking military action. It's the latest of a wide range of sanctions carried out against Russia by the international community, following the invasion of Ukraine.
What is a sanction?What is a sanction?
A sanction is a penalty imposed by one country on another, often in order to stop it acting aggressively or breaking international law.A sanction is a penalty imposed by one country on another, often in order to stop it acting aggressively or breaking international law.
Sanctions are often designed to hurt a country's economy or the finances of individual citizens such as leading politicians. They can include travel bans and arms embargoes.Sanctions are often designed to hurt a country's economy or the finances of individual citizens such as leading politicians. They can include travel bans and arms embargoes.
They are among the toughest measures nations can use, short of going to war.They are among the toughest measures nations can use, short of going to war.
What sanctions are Western nations imposing?What sanctions are Western nations imposing?
Swift Financial sanctions
The European Union, US, UK and allies have agreed to remove selected Russian banks from the Swift messaging system, which enables the smooth transfer of money across borders. Western leaders have frozen the assets of Russia's central bank, limiting its ability to access $630bn in international dollar reserves.
The action is aimed at cutting Russia off from the international financial system and to "harm their ability to operate globally".
What is Swift and why is banning Russia so significant?
A ban from Swift will delay the payments Russia gets for exports of oil and gas.
However, Russia could get paid through other systems - for example, China's Cross-Border Interbank Payment System.
The ban will also affect companies owed money by Russia - and cause disruption to some countries' energy supplies.
Russia's central bank
Western leaders have agreed to freeze the assets of Russia's central bank, to limit its ability to access its $630bn international dollar reserves.
In co-ordination with the US and the EU, the UK government has also banned British people and businesses from making transactions with the Russian central bank, its finance ministry and its wealth fund.In co-ordination with the US and the EU, the UK government has also banned British people and businesses from making transactions with the Russian central bank, its finance ministry and its wealth fund.
Russia central bank urges calm amid cash run fearsRussia central bank urges calm amid cash run fears
Targeting a central bank of a G20 nation is unprecedented and designed to "push the whole of Russia in to as deep a recession as possible, with the added chaos of bank runs", says BBC economics editor Faisal Islam. The European Union, US, UK and allies have also agreed to remove selected Russian banks from the Swift messaging system, which enables the smooth transfer of money across borders. The ban will delay the payments Russia gets for exports of oil and gas.
After its currency, the rouble, slumped by 30% against the US dollar, Russia has more than doubled its key interest rate in an attempt to stem the decline. What is Swift and why is banning Russia so significant?
Other financial measures Other sanctions in the UK include:
On top of action on the Swift system and Russia's central bank, all major Russian banks are being excluded from the UK financial system. This stops them from accessing sterling and clearing payments through the UK. All Russian banks will have their assets frozen, the UK has said. major Russian banks are being excluded from the UK financial system, stopping them from accessing sterling and clearing payments
It also announced laws to stop major Russian companies and the state raising finance or borrowing money on UK markets, and placed a limit on deposits Russians can make to UK bank accounts. all Russian banks will have their assets frozen
major Russian companies and the state will be stopped from raising finance or borrowing money on UK markets
a limit will be placed on deposits Russians can make to UK bank accounts.
EU measures have been announced targeting 70% of the Russian banking market and key state-owned firms, including defence firms.EU measures have been announced targeting 70% of the Russian banking market and key state-owned firms, including defence firms.
Exports to Russia Trade with Russia
The UK, EU, US and other countries have announced curbs on products that can be sent to Russia. These include dual-use goods, which are items that could have both a civilian and military use, like high-tech items, chemicals or lasers.The UK, EU, US and other countries have announced curbs on products that can be sent to Russia. These include dual-use goods, which are items that could have both a civilian and military use, like high-tech items, chemicals or lasers.
The EU is aiming to make it impossible for Russia to upgrade its oil refineries with an export ban on certain materials. It is also banning the sale of aircraft and equipment to Russian airlines in an attempt to damage its economy and connectivity.The EU is aiming to make it impossible for Russia to upgrade its oil refineries with an export ban on certain materials. It is also banning the sale of aircraft and equipment to Russian airlines in an attempt to damage its economy and connectivity.
Germany has put on hold permission for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany to open.
Targeting individualsTargeting individuals
Western governments have imposed sanctions on some individuals, including a "hit list" of powerful, wealthy businessmen and women known as oligarchs.Western governments have imposed sanctions on some individuals, including a "hit list" of powerful, wealthy businessmen and women known as oligarchs.
Also targeted are Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, whose assets in the US, EU, UK and Canada will be frozen and, in the case of the US, a travel ban imposed.Also targeted are Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, whose assets in the US, EU, UK and Canada will be frozen and, in the case of the US, a travel ban imposed.
The EU, UK, US and Canada have launched a transatlantic task force to identify and freeze the assets of sanctioned individuals and companies, targeting more "officials and elites close to the Russian government, as well as their families".The EU, UK, US and Canada have launched a transatlantic task force to identify and freeze the assets of sanctioned individuals and companies, targeting more "officials and elites close to the Russian government, as well as their families".
The UK is limiting the sale of citizenship via "golden passports", which allow wealthy Russians to become citizens. The UK is limiting the sale of citizenship via "golden passports", which have allowed wealthy Russians to become citizens.
Who is not on the UK sanctions list?Who is not on the UK sanctions list?
West orders sanctions on Russia's Putin and LavrovWest orders sanctions on Russia's Putin and Lavrov
Other measures Travel
The EU has announced a blanket ban on Russian flights. Russian aircraft are unable to land in, take off from or fly over any EU nation, meaning longer journey times, and have also been barred from UK airspace The US has banned all Russian flights from its airspace, taking effect from the end of 2 March.
The EU is also going to ban Russia's state-owned news outlets Sputnik and Russia Today The measure was announced by President Biden in his State of the Union address, and follows similar bans by Canada, the EU and the UK.
Germany has put on hold permission for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany to open
What about Belarus?What about Belarus?
Neighbouring Belarus, which has been accused of facilitating Russia's invasion, is also facing fresh sanctions on top of those imposed after its disputed election in 2020.Neighbouring Belarus, which has been accused of facilitating Russia's invasion, is also facing fresh sanctions on top of those imposed after its disputed election in 2020.
The EU has pledged to stop exports by Belarus' "most important sectors", including tobacco, wood and cement.The EU has pledged to stop exports by Belarus' "most important sectors", including tobacco, wood and cement.
It is also introducing the same dual-use restrictions that it imposed on Russia.It is also introducing the same dual-use restrictions that it imposed on Russia.
It said it would also sanction individuals who are "helping the Russian war effort".It said it would also sanction individuals who are "helping the Russian war effort".
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is an ally of Vladimir PutinBelarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is an ally of Vladimir Putin
The US has sanctioned a number of Belarusian individuals and entities, including state-owned banks and defence companies.The US has sanctioned a number of Belarusian individuals and entities, including state-owned banks and defence companies.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also promised sanctions on Belarus for its role in the invasion.UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also promised sanctions on Belarus for its role in the invasion.
How has Russia reacted to the sanctions?How has Russia reacted to the sanctions?
After financial sanctions came into effect, the Russian currency, the rouble, slumped by 30% against the US dollar.
Russia has more than doubled its key interest rate in an attempt to stem the decline.
Russia's foreign ministry has threatened sanctions of its own against the West. This may include reducing or shutting off gas supplies to Europe.Russia's foreign ministry has threatened sanctions of its own against the West. This may include reducing or shutting off gas supplies to Europe.
British airlines have now been banned from Russian airspace or landing at Russian airports, and in a retaliatory move, Russia's biggest airline, Aeroflot, said on Sunday it would cancel all flights to European destinations until further notice.British airlines have now been banned from Russian airspace or landing at Russian airports, and in a retaliatory move, Russia's biggest airline, Aeroflot, said on Sunday it would cancel all flights to European destinations until further notice.
Hitting the Russian banking sector is likely to damage firms which do business in Russia, or have assets in its banks, and the export ban on high-tech goods will hit many Western manufacturers.