Trump Says U.S. Strikes on Iran Will Continue Until Nuclear Deal Is Reached 
Trump to Deliver National Address on 2020 Election Intelligence, Voting Machine Security 
HHS Watchdog Reports $5.56 Billion in Healthcare Fraud Recoveries as Enforcement Actions Decline 
UK Sanctions 24 Russian-Linked Targets Over Cyberattacks and Election Interference 
Trump Recommends Darline Graham for Interim South Carolina Senate Seat 
Trump Administration Bars U.S. Travelers From Congo Flights Amid Ebola Outbreak 
EU to Propose New Rules Limiting Children's Access to Social Media 
Western Allies Push for More Air Defenses for Ukraine at Paris Summit 
Israel Sets October 27 Election as Netanyahu Faces Tough Political Test 
Trump Tells Congress Iran Hostilities Restarted, Citing New 60-Day War Powers Window 
Israel-Lebanon Talks Resume in Rome as Ceasefire and Troop Withdrawal Remain Elusive 
Zelenskiy Plans Ukraine Government Shake-Up as Prime Minister Svyrydenko Set to Step Down 
EU Weighs New Trade Restrictions on Israeli West Bank Settlements 
EU Ministers Split as Support Grows for Ban on Trade With Israeli West Bank Settlements 
Trump Administration Bars U.S. Travelers From Congo Flights Amid Ebola Outbreak 
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham Dies at 71, Leaving South Carolina Senate Seat Vacant 
Ukraine, Europe Launch Freyja Missile Shield to Strengthen Air Defense Against Russia 
Many countries have joined in to condemn Russia for its invasion of Ukraine as Vladimir Putin seeks to seize control of the country. Following the sets of sanctions the US has already imposed, Washington has imposed another set of economic sanctions, further targeting Russia’s economy.
According to a report by the New York Times, the US Treasury Department announced a new set of economic sanctions to impose on Russia in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine. The agency announced that it would be immobilizing assets from the Russian Central Bank that are held in the US. The Treasury will also target the Russian Direct Investment Fund, a wealth fund run by an ally of Putin.
The latest sanctions would curb Russia’s ability to make use of its international reserves to blunt the impact of the penalties imposed by the US and European allies. The latest set of penalties by the Treasury also comes as the Russian economy is moving towards collapse.
“The ruble cratered, the stock market froze, and the public rushed to withdraw cash on Monday as Western sanctions kicked in and Russia awoke to uncertainty and fear over the rapidly spreading repercussions” of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The Russian Central Bank has since attempted to keep the country’s economy afloat by doubling the interest rates while barring foreigners from selling Russian securities and ordering exporters to convert most of their foreign currency revenues into rubles.
“The unprecedented action we are taking today will significantly limit Russia’s ability to use assets to finance its destabilizing activities and target the funds Putin and his inner circle depend on to enable his invasion of Ukraine,” said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in a statement.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also led the International Criminal Court at The Hague to open an investigation into potential war crimes related to the invasion. International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan released a statement Monday saying that upon review, there is a “reasonable basis” to launch an investigation.
As previously reported by The Guardian, Lithuania has called for the ICC to launch an investigation into the potential war crimes committed by both Russia and Belarus in Ukraine.
