WASHINGTON — The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on 398 firms from Russia, India, China and more than a dozen other nations — accusing them of providing products and services that enable Russia’s war effort and aid its ability to evades sanctions.

The effort, led by the Departments of Treasury and State, is aimed at punishing “third countries” that are accused of providing material assistance to the Kremlin or assisting Russia in evading the thousands of sanctions which were imposed on the country from her the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Among those sanctioned by the Treasury Department are 274 companies accused of providing Russia with advanced technology, as well as Russian defense and manufacturing firms that make or finish military products that support weaponry used against Ukraine.

In addition, the State Department imposed diplomatic sanctions on several senior Russian Defense Ministry officials and defense companies, a group of Chinese companies that export dual-use goods that fill critical gaps in Russia’s military-industrial base, and entities and people related to Belarus. to the Lukashenko regime’s support for Russia’s defense industry.

Assistant Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said the U.S. and its allies “are unwavering in our determination to diminish and degrade Russia’s ability to equip its war machine and to stop those who seek to aid its efforts through evasion or circumvention of our sanctions and export controls”.

Wednesday’s action is the latest in a series of thousands of US sanctions that have been imposed on Russian firms and their suppliers from other countries since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The the effectiveness of the sanctions has been questionedespecially as Russia continued to support its economy by selling oil and gas on international markets.

The Biden administration recognizes that sanctions alone cannot stop Russia’s war on Ukraine. And many policy experts say the sanctions aren’t strong enough — as they demonstrate the growth of the Russian economy.

A senior Treasury official told reporters on a call to anticipate sanctions on Wednesday that deepening ties between Russia and North Korea is a sign of Russia’s desperation to find support during the war. north korea said on Tuesday that its top diplomat was visiting Russiaas South Korea and rival Western nations claim, the North sent thousands of troops to support Russia’s war effort.

Earlier this year, the US adopted a aid package for Ukraine which allows the administration to confiscate the assets of the Russian state located in the USA and use them for the benefit of Kiev.

Soon after, the leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies agreed to design a $50 billion loan to help Ukraine in its fight for survival. Interest earned on profits from frozen assets of Russia’s central banks of $300 billion, mainly in Europe, would be used as collateral.

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