On Friday, President Joe Biden issued his latest executive order which blocks U.S. imports on certain Russian products, including seafood, vodka and diamonds.
Biden’s outlined a ban on “the importation into the United States of the following products of Russian Federation origin: fish, seafood, and preparations thereof; alcoholic beverages; non-industrial diamonds,” as well as “any other products of Russian Federation origin as may be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce.”
According to NBC News, the order will block over $1 billion in revenue for Russia.
“And we’re going to continue to squeeze Putin. The G7 will seek to deny Russia the ability to borrow from leading multinational institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank,” Biden said Friday morning in remarks at the White House. “Putin is an aggressor — is the aggressor. And Putin must pay the price.”
“He cannot pursue a war that threatens the very foundations — which he’s doing — the very foundations of international peace and stability and then ask for financial help from the international community,” Biden added.
Biden’s order also prevents the U.S. from exporting “luxury items” to anyone in Russia.
The order states that it prohibits “the exportation, reexportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States, or by a United States person, wherever located, of luxury goods, and any other items as may be determined by the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury, to any person located in the Russian Federation.”
Also on Friday, Biden also vowed to continue supplying Ukraine with weapons “to defend against the Russian invasion.”
“And I also want to be clear though: We will make sure Ukraine has weapons to defend against an invading Russian force. We will — we will send money and food and aid to save the Ukrainian people. And I will welcome the Ukrainian refugees. We should welcome them here with open arms if they need access,” Biden said.
“And we’re going to provide more support for Ukraine. We’re going to continue to stand together with our Allies in Europe and send an unmistakable message: We will defend every single inch of NATO territory with the full might of a united and galvanized NATO,” he continued, adding that the United States will “not fight a war against Russia in Ukraine.”
“Direct confrontation between NATO and Russia is World War Three, something we must strive to prevent,” Biden added.
