A House Republican proposal to pass a temporary government spending measure, or continuing resolution (CR), for the rest of FY 2025 would prevent Congress from weighing in on export control policy, such as by opposing the easing of restrictions on Russia, according to a memo released March 8 by Senate Appropriations Committee ranking member Patty Murray, D-Wash.
Canada last week announced new sanctions against people and entities for either helping Iran acquire controlled technology or having ties to human rights violations committed by the Myanmar military regime.
The U.K. on March 7 removed Russian bank Rosbank PJSC and Turkish energy firm Active Denizcilik Ve Gemi Isletmeciligi Anonim Sirketi from its Russia sanctions list. Rosbank was sanctioned in 2023 for operating in Russia’s financial services sector, and Active Denizcilik was sanctioned last year for doing business in Russia’s energy sector. The U.K.’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation didn’t give a reason for their removals.
President Donald Trump last week threatened to increase sanctions against Russia if it doesn't agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine and a peace deal. His comments came one day after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also threatened more sanctions against Moscow, including its energy sector.
The U.S. should establish “some kind of new unit in our government” to focus on competing with China, a researcher told the House Homeland Security Committee March 5.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned senior members and operatives of the Yemen-based Houthis, the group designated by the Trump administration as a foreign terrorist organization (see 2503040008). OFAC said the officials smuggled military items and weapon systems into Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, negotiated Houthi weapons procurements from Russia, or have recruited Yemeni civilians to fight for Russia in Ukraine.
Former Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, who worked on key sanctions and defense trade issues during the Biden administration, has joined Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service as a distinguished fellow in diplomacy, the school announced this week. Campbell helped oversee U.S. efforts to reduce defense trade restrictions with Australia and the U.K. under the AUKUS partnership (see 2404030050 and 2409180025) and testified before Congress about the administration's efforts to counter China’s support for Russia’s defense industrial base (see 2407300033).
The Trump administration is working on plans to possibly give Russia sanctions relief as the U.S. works to negotiate an end to Moscow’s war with Ukraine, Reuters reported March 3. The White House ordered the State and Treasury departments to draft a list of sanctions that could be “eased,” the report said, and that U.S. officials could use to discuss with Russian representatives in talks with Moscow in the coming days. The agencies are writing a proposal to lift sanctions on “select entities and individuals, including some Russian oligarchs,” the report said. The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
The EU General Court on Feb. 26 rejected the sanctions delisting application of Aleksandra Melnichenko, wife of sanctioned Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko.
The U.K. corrected one entry on its Russia sanctions list and amended one entry on its Global Anti-Corruption sanctions list, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation said. Under Russia, OFSI corrected the listing for OJSC Keremet Bank, changing the ZIP code for the bank in Kyrgyzstan. Under the anti-corruption regime, the agency amended the listing for Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue to reflect that Mangue was listed for engaging in bribery while serving as vice president of Equatorial Guinea.