The United States imposed sanctions on nearly 5,000 Russians, including its top leadership and oligarchs, following Moscow’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine.

“We have worked with allies and partners to impose costs, including visa restrictions for Kremlin officials and their enablers. Since February 24, 2022, the United States has taken steps to impose visa restrictions on nearly 5,000 people in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” a State Department spokesperson said. .

“We will continue to identify those involved in the Russian invasion and encourage accountability for their conduct. We are looking at all the tools to hold the Kremlin to account,” the official said.

“The United States would not want to close avenues of refuge and safety to Russian dissidents or others vulnerable to human rights abuses. We have also been clear that it is important to draw a line between the actions of the Russian government and its policies in Ukraine, and the Russian people,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also confirmed that the Russian ambassador to the United States visited the State Department on August 18 so that the United States could warn Russia against any escalation of its war against the Ukraine, including calling on Moscow to cease all military operations at or near Ukrainian nuclear facilities. and return full control of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant to the war-torn country.

“We have nothing further to offer on the details of the discussions,” the spokesperson said in response to a question.

At his regular daily press conference, State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters that the United States has been tapping into its strategic oil reserve at an unprecedented rate by working with allies in the around the world, including areas, literally, on the other side of the world to increase the supply of oil. GNL to its allies and partners in other parts of the world who may need it, especially as the winter months approach.

“With our European partners, we have also launched a working group focused on the long-term implications of energy, how we can accelerate this transition to renewable energy and how we can move away from dependence on from Russia and other unreliable and unreliable energy sources in the world’s energy industry. Those discussions are ongoing, as well as our discussions with OPEC members on this matter,” he said.

Russia will continue its brutal attacks against the Ukrainian state, against the Ukrainian people, against Ukraine’s independence, its democracy, its territorial integrity as well, he alleged.

“There is no doubt that we will continue to support our Ukrainian partners. You saw it on Friday, we announced an additional presidential levy, our 19th presidential levy, $800 million in that one levy, bringing our total security assistance to Ukraine to about $10 billion dollars since the beginning of the invasion more, since the beginning of this administration, and we will continue to do more, as will our partners around the world,” he said.

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