On Thursday, April 15, U.S. President Joe Biden declared a national emergency with respect to the unusual and extraordinary threat to national security, foreign policy and economy of the United States posed by specified harmful foreign activities of the Government of the Russian Federation.
The corresponding statement was published by the White House press service.
"I have determined that specified harmful foreign activities of the Government of the Russian Federation — in particular, efforts to undermine the conduct of free and fair democratic elections and democratic institutions in the United States and its allies and partners; to engage in and facilitate malicious cyber-enabled activities against the United States and its allies and partners; to foster and use transnational corruption to influence foreign governments; to pursue extraterritorial activities targeting dissidents or journalists; to undermine security in countries and regions important to United States national security; and to violate well-established principles of international law, including respect for the territorial integrity of states — constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States," President Biden said in a letter to Congress.
The national security emergency regime in the United States served as the basis for economic sanctions. Thus, according to the order, property and interests in property that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of any United States person or specific persons are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in.
The U.S. administration noted that these sanctions will come into force on June 14 and will affect the growth of GDP of the Russian Federation, create inflation, and influence the whole market, which may force Russia to spend its reserves.
Moreover, the U.S. is ready to impose further significant long-term sanctions against Russia in case its unfriendly steps continue.
Importantly, the United States retain the right to "respond" to the possible response of the Russian Federation. Simultaneously, the United States hopes for de-escalation and stressed that it does not want further deterioration of relations with Russia and believes that it can and should be avoided.