Will The Biden Administration End Sanctions Against Countries Like Russia, China, North Korea, And Iran?

President Joe Biden's administration is nearing completion of a security review of U.S. sanctions policy against countries including Russia, Iran and North Korea  

Daily Mail: Biden is considering ENDING sweeping sanctions against states like Iran that were strengthened under Trump and will instead rely on 'working with' foreign governments 

* The Treasury Department is leading a review that 'seeks to identify ways to promote a warranted, strategic, and judicious use of sanctions' 

* Focus on sanctions done in concert with allies 

* U.S. has slapped sanctions on Iran, China, North Korea and other nations in effort to punish actions or incentivize changes 

* Administration commenced review to identify ways to use sanctions in more targeted fashion to avoid impacts on ordinary citizens 

* U.S. working with allies to life some sanctions on Iran amid push to rekindle nuclear deal 

* Sen. Ted Cruz compared the changes to 'appeasement' 

The Biden administration is near completion of an overall review of U.S. sanctions meant to punish or push nations like Iran, North Korea, and Russia. 

The result is moving toward efforts that rely more on U.S. allies and sanctions that are retooled in a way meant to mitigate impacts on ordinary citizens – but could result in peeling back efforts meant to nudge outlaw regimes like Iran and North Korea. 

The U.S. imposed sanctions have had pronounced effects on the economies of Iran and Venezuela, but have yet to bring about political change policymakers hoped for.  

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WNU Editor: Ending sanctions will only enrich and embolden the leadership of these countries, and it is certainly NOT going to make life easier for the average citizen..

Is The U.S. About To Impose Sanctions On Turkey And India For Purchasing Russia' S-400 Missile System?

Russian S-400 units are pictured during the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9, 2018. © Sergei Karpukhin / Reuters

WNU Editor: After yesterday's sanctions on Russia and China, all eyes are now on the U.S. imposing sanctions on Turkey .... Turkey could be in firing line as U.S. imposes sanctions for Russia collaboration (Ahval), and on India .... S-400 deal a 'significant transaction', may lead to sanctions on India: US (Times of India).

China And Russia Condemn Latest U.S. Sanctions

The sanctions relate to China's purchase of 10 Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets . BBC/Reuters

France 24: China, Russia warn US of consequences over sanctions

Moscow and Beijing lashed out Friday at Washington's new anti-Russian sanctions that also target China for the first time, warning the United States could face consequences.

The United States is "playing with fire", Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said, while Beijing voiced "strong indignation" over the move.

United in their resentment of America's global influence, China and Russia have sought in recent years to tighten up their ties and this month conducted week-long joint military drills, Moscow's largest ever war games.

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WNU Editor: China and Russia are reacting to this .... U.S. Imposes Sanctions On China's Main Defense Company For Buying Russian Jets And Missiles (September 21, 2018).

More News On Both China And Russia Condemning The Latest U.S. Sanctions

China 'outraged' by US sanctions over Russian weapons buy -- ABC News/AP
China warns US it will 'bear the consequences' for sanctions placed on its military -- CNBC
China hits back at American sanctions over Russian fighter jet and missile purchases -- SCMP
China warns US to withdraw military sanctions or ‘bear consequences’ -- Hindustan Times
Chinese anger at US sanctions for Russian weapons purchases -- BBC
Russia Says U.S. Is Playing With Fire by Imposing 60th Sanctions Package Since 2011 -- Moscow Times
US adds 33 Russian officials linked to defense manufacturing to blacklist -- TASS

U.S. Imposes Sanctions On China's Main Defense Company For Buying Russian Jets And Missiles

An SU-35 military jet at the MAKS-2009 international air show in Zhukovsky, outside Moscow, August 21, 2009. Sergei Karpukhin/REUTERS

SCMP: US slaps sanctions on Chinese military unit for buying Russian jets, missiles

The actions target a key agency in China’s Central Military Commission, as well as the agency’s leader – but a US official said the sanctions were to punish Russia, not harm Beijing.

The US government has slapped punitive sanctions on a key unit of the Chinese military for buying Russian fighter jets and surface-to-air missiles.

Washington said that the purchases by the Equipment Development Department (EDD) of China’s Ministry of Defence violated US sanctions on Russia. Both the EDD and its director, Li Shangfu, have been named in Thursday’s sanctions.

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WNU Editor: This will not impact China. They do not buy U.S. arms, nor are U.S. defense companies permitted to sell arms to China. This measure is to punish Russia by telling any other country that if they buy Russian armaments, the U.S. will lay sanctions on their defense companies.

More News On The U.S. Imposing Sanctions On China's Main Defense Company For Buying Russian Jets And Missiles

U.S. sanctions China for buying Russia war planes, missiles -- Reuters
US hits Chinese unit with sanctions for buying Russian jets, missiles -- France 24
Amid a growing trade war, the US is hitting China with sanctions for buying Russian jets and missiles -- Business Insider
U.S. Sanctions China for Buying Russian Arms -- NRO

Sanctions And Tariffs Have Become President Trump's Weapons Of Choice

WNU Editor: As long as the U.S. economy is booming, President Trump can use sanctions as a tool to get concessions from other countries.

Are U.S. Energy Sanctions Bringing It Rivals To Their 'Knees'?

Oil workers conduct a drill in a petroleum well in Lagunillas at the east coast of Lake Maracaibo near Maracaibo City in Venezuela. Jorge Silva/Reuters

CNBC: North Korea may have just given US much needed win in war waged by sanctions

* The United States is using energy sanctions around the world to bring its rivals to heel.
* Some foreign policy analysts warn that the penalties are falling short of their aim.
* Sanctions are most effective when there is broad international support and a clear goal.
* On Tuesday, North Korea said it was open to talking to South Korea and the U.S. regarding denuclearization and normalizing ties.

The United States is deploying energy sanctions from Caracas, Venezuela, to the Korean Peninsula in a bid to bring its rivals to heel. On Tuesday there was a potential breakthrough: A South Korea delegation that met leader Kim Jong Un reported that the North Korean leader is willing to hold talks with the U.S. on denuclearization and normalizing ties. They also said North and South Korea will hold their first summit meeting in more than a decade in late April.

If North Korea fulfills those promises that would be a big win and sign that the recent ineffectiveness of sanctions against some of the United States' biggest enemies — which have fallen short of their goals — may not apply to North Korea. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said on Tuesday that more sanctions against Russia will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

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WNU Editor: Venezuela is not getting the expertise it needs to run its oil industry. Iran is still barred from many international banks. And North Korea is limited on purchasing oil supplies. So yes .... The U.S. is using energy sanctions to put pressure on many of its foes .... and IMHO it looks like it is working (at least in the case of North Korea).

A Look At What Life Is Like On The US Treasury Blacklist

The Guardian: 'A kind of death': life on the US Treasury blacklist

The United States in 2009 listed Kassim Tajideen as a financier of Hezbollah, the Iran-allied Lebanese party, leaving him shut out from banks with no legal redress.

Put aside any image of a global terrorist in an Afghan cave or an armed camp in Pakistan’s tribal areas. Forget the triumphalism of an Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander. Kassim Tajideen arrives in a Beirut restaurant wearing a flat cloth cap and chats over a lunch of spiced fish.

The fact he can’t pay with a Visa card is one of the lesser disadvantages of being listed by the United States Treasury Department as a financial supporter of Hezbollah, the Iran-allied Lebanese Shia Muslim group the United States classifies as a foreign terrorist organisation.

Ten months after Iran’s nuclear agreement with world powers, its leaders complain that continuing US sanctions are deterring would-be foreign investors. Many of the remaining blocks to trade result from the US designation of Iranian entities, including the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), as terrorist, and a major reason for this designation appears to be their links to Hezbollah.

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WNU editor: I do not know if this Guardian story on Kassim Tajideen is accurate, but I do know from media reports in Russia  that Russians who are on the U.S.-EU sanctions list because of Ukraine are not having an easy time in raising funds and/or doing business overseas. In short .... they have become financially castrated.

U.S. Imposes Sanctions On Two North Korean Shipping Companies

U.S. Blacklists North Korea Shipping Firms Over Arms Shipments -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday blacklisted two North Korean shipping firms that it said tried to conceal arms shipments from Cuba to North Korea, following a similar move by the United Nations.

The ship, Chong Chon Gang, was discovered last July near the Panama Canal hiding a large amount of arms, including two MiG-21 jet fighters under 200,000 bags of sugar, which the United States said showed a clear attempt to circumvent U.N. and U.S. sanctions against North Korea.

North Korea is under an array of sanctions for nuclear and ballistic missile tests since 2006 in defiance of global demands to stop.

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More News On The U.S. Imposing Sanctions On Two North Korean Shipping Companies

US Slaps Sanctions on 2 North Korean Shipping Companies -- Defense News/AFP
US puts sanctions on North Korea shipping companies -- Radio Australia
North Korean Firms Involved in Arms Shipment Targeted -- WSJ
U.S. sanctions N. Korea firms over arms transfer from Cuba -- Global Post/Kyodo
US slaps sanctions on two North Korean shipping firms -- Korea Times

My Comment: These sanctions would have an even greater bite if other countries were involved .... unfortunately .... aside from respecting UN sanctions no one else is jumping on this band-wagon.

What Russian Sanctions?

U.S. Sales To Russia Have Only Risen Since Sanctions Imposed -- McClatchy News

WASHINGTON — In the months since the United States imposed sanctions on Russian businesses and close associates of President Vladimir Putin’s, an odd thing has happened: U.S. exports to Russia have risen.

U.S. Census Bureau foreign trade data show that exports rose 17 percent from March through May _ the most recent months for which the data is available _ compared with the previous three months, before sanctions were imposed. The value of exports has risen in each consecutive month this year, an unusual trend in a trade relationship that historically fluctuates on a monthly basis.

Russian markets account for less than 1 percent of U.S. exports, but what the U.S. sells to Russia is largely high-tech and expensive goods, including technology and equipment for the energy sector, which faces the threat of targeted sanctions.

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My Comment: Do what we say .... not what we do.

The EU And The U.S. Preparing To Impose More Russian Sanctions

Beware Russia: Expect More Sanctions From The West -- Fortune

Critics may think the U.S. and Europe haven’t been aggressive enough with Russia, but a closer look suggests more sanctions are under way.

The tragic downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 accelerates pressure on the West to put full “sectoral” sanctions in place targeting entire industries across Russia. The economic disruption could be profound, but the West—backed by a larger, stronger economies and central banks flush with liquidity liquidity—is far more resilient than Russia for what is to come.

It is easy to criticize the West’s most recent sanctions as incremental and timid. The European Union last week added 33 individuals and entities to their sanctions list, including senior Russian security service officials and oligarchs. France continues to insist it will provide warships to Russia, and economic interests seem to be blocking tough action. Even the most recent sanctions by the United States only moved to block new debt and equity issuance by a number of energy, financial and military companies. What’s more, U.S. sanctions exclude Sberbank, which holds the majority of Russian deposits.

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More News On The EU And The U.S. Preparing More Sanctions Against Russia

White House: EU, US to impose new Russia sanctions -- AP
EU Prepares to Add Five Individuals, Two Entities to Ukraine Sanctions List -- WSJ
UK says EU agreement on Russia sanctions 'closer' -- BBC
Russia could face tough banking sanctions 'within days' -- The Telegraph
Obama, European Leaders Confer on Ukraine -- WSJ
Russia, Germany up diplomatic battle over Ukraine sanctions -- Reuters
Germany Favors Sectoral Sanctions Against Moscow -- RIA Novosti
EU Council will discuss economic sanctions on Russia July 29 -- ITAR-TASS
White House: US, Europe to issue new sanctions on Russia this week -- GMA/Reuters
Japan Says Will Release Sanction List of Russian Citizens and Companies Soon -- RIA Novosti

Calls Grow To Impound Russian Billionaires' Luxury Super Yachts To Punish Putin

Billion-pound palace: Roman Abramovich's Eclipse, pictured, is worth as much as £1billion. Super-rich Russians such as Abramovich could be caught up in rounds of sanctions directed against Russia

Yacht's The Way To Send The Oligarchs A Message: Calls Grow To Impound Russian Billionaires' Luxury Boats In Protest At Shooting Down Of MH17 -- Daily Mail

* Billionaires with links to Putin's Russia flaunt wealth with huge superyachts
* Russian regime currently in international firing line over MH17 jet attack
* Flight, with 298 on board, was shot out of the sky last week
* Western powers are considering sanctions of Russia's centres of power
* Foreign policy experts suggest 'symbolic' sanctions against super-wealthy could influence Putin

The luxury superyachts of billionaire oligarchs could be seized as part of a squeeze on Vladimir Putin's Russia as international outrage builds over the attack on passenger jet MH17.

Foreign policy experts raised the prospect of levying sanctions on the super-rich allies of the Russian president as a way of punishing the country over its links to attack on the passenger jet.

Dozens of wealthy businessmen with links to Putin's government are based outside the country, as are their prized yachts, some of which are worth as much as £1billion.

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My Comment:  Conducting such seizures will make the news .... but I doubt that it will have an impact on Russian foreign policy .... and I am sure that it will be deemed illegal in any international court.

New EU Sanctions Will Target State-Owned Russian Banks And Billionaires

Proposed EU Sanctions May Target Russian Billionaires -- Newsweek

Hard-hitting European Union sanctions would target state-owned Russian banks and the export of sensitive military goods to Russia, as well as some of Russia's richest people, according to proposals set forth by European leaders today. EU ministers are meeting to discuss further measures against Russia as a response to the crisis in Ukraine and downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 last week. If implemented, it would be the first time European nations have targeted the Russian economy and gone beyond asset freezes and visa bans, according to Reuters.

While European leaders appeared initially hesitant to impose harsh sanctions against Russia, they seem emboldened by the downing of the Malaysia airliner, particularly because the majority of the 298 people killed on board were from The Netherlands. The EU has been threatening Russia with sanctions unless it ensures a full international investigation, and stems the flow of weapons to pro-Russia rebels in eastern Ukraine.

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More News On New EU Sanctions That Will Target State-Owned Russian Banks And Billionaires

EU targets state-owned Russia banks in sanctions plan -- Reuters
EU adds 15 people, 18 firms to sanctions list over Ukraine crisis -- RT
EU sanctions on Russia to be adopted next week -- Independent.ie
Europe Narrows Divide Over Russian Sanctions -- WSJ
Canada to impose sanctions on range of Russian firms and banks -- Reuters
MH17 crash: sanctions against Russia are illegal, ambassador claims -- The Guardian
Western Sanctions 'Illegal' Says Russian Ambassador to Britain -- IBTimes
Sanctions will hurt West and inflame global financial crisis, warns Russian ambassador -- Daily Mail
Russia threatens to hit British companies in 'retaliation' for sanctions -- The Telegraph
Which Russian companies could benefit from sanctions? -- Alexei Lossan, RBTH
Why Europe is wary over Russia sanctions -- CNN
Things to know about Russia and sanctions -- Ray Sanchez, CNN

My Comment: The oligarchs are getting nervous .... but for the average Russian on the street .... they are not worried. What's my take .... Russians should be concerned on the long term impact of sanctions .... it will hurt everyone .... Europeans, Ukrainians, and Russians.

What Russian Sanctions?

Even With Sanctions, U.S. Sales to Russia Hit New High -- Wall Street Journal

U.S. efforts to penalize Russia for its actions in Ukraine appear to have done little to stem exports of U.S. goods to the country.

The U.S. announced targeted sanctions against several Russian companies and individuals in March, but U.S. trade data published Thursday shows exports to the country were the highest on record at $1.2 billion in May.

The sanctions, organized with Europe and other major industrialized nations over Moscow’s alleged actions to destabilize its former client state, sparked investor flight out of Russia, led the ruble to tumble and pushed the economy into a recession. Russian markets have since recovered somewhat, but investors have been wary of an escalation in the sanctions battle.

Demand for U.S. products apparently hasn’t been hit, however, and in fact jumped 21% from the previous month.

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My Comment: This is becoming the global perception of the U.S. today .... say one thing and demand your allies to do it .... but you do something else. In this case .... demand sanctions against Russia .... but boost your trade with Russia.

Russian Sanctions? What Russian Sanctions?

Russian Official Under US Sanction Plays Key Role In Pentagon Space Program -- FOX News

A top Russian official sanctioned by President Obama in the wake of the Ukraine crisis is playing a key role in the Pentagon's space program, and thereby continuing to benefit from a lucrative no-bid contract that the Department of Defense awarded earlier this year, Fox News has confirmed.

Dmitry Rogozin, deputy prime minister of the Russian Federation, was among the senior Kremlin officials targeted by the White House's sanctions announcement of March 17. Included in Rogozin's broad portfolio of duties, by virtue of a special order from Russian President Vladimir Putin issued two years ago, is oversight of the Russian space sector, in which capacity Rogozin supplies sophisticated hardware used in the Pentagon's launches of satellites into space.

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My Comment: Elon Musk is spot on in his criticism of this U.S. - Russia space arrangement.

On a personal note .... this is a weird story for me. When Dmitry Rogozin was Russia's NATO ambassador he was a twitter follower of this blog .... and I did correspond with him (or maybe it was someone in his office .... you never know). But on the other side an Asian business group that I am with did meet and correspond with Elon Musk a few years back. He was interested in meeting some of our contacts from China ... but nothing came out of it.

Yup .... this is more proof to me that we do live in a very small world.

G7 Leaders Agree To Impose New Sanctions On Russia

G-7: New Sanctions on Russia Over Ukraine -- Voice of America

The Group of Seven major economies has agreed to "move swiftly" on new sanctions against Russia because of Russia's actions in Ukraine.

In a joint statement released late Friday, the G-7 nations (- the U.S., Canada, Britain, France, Gernamy, Italy and Japan -) said they would take measures to intensify "targeted sanctions."

A U.S. official said the sanctions could begin as early as Monday.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has accused Russia of wanting to occupy Ukraine "militarily and politically," as both Kyiv and Moscow mass troops close to their mutual border. Mr. Yatsenyuk told an interim Cabinet meeting that Moscow "wants to start World War Three."

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More News On The G7 Leaders Agreeing To Impose New Sanctions On Russia

G7 statement on further sanctions against Russia -- Reuters
Group of Seven agrees swift sanctions against Kremlin over Ukraine -- Reuters
G7 agrees sanctions on Russia as stakes jump in Ukraine crisis -- Global Post/AFP
G7 agrees new sanctions on Russia over Ukraine crisis -- France 24
Ukraine crisis: G7 'to intensify Russia sanctions' -- BBC
Ukraine crisis: G7 to 'intensify sanctions' on Russia -- The Telegraph
Ukraine crisis: G7 countries agree to intensify sanctions against Russia -- The Guardian
US, Europeans to Slap New Sanctions on Russia -- ABC News
G-7 agrees to fresh Russia sanctions -- Japan Times/AFP/AP
G7 to Impose Fresh Sanctions on Russia over Ukraine -- IBTimes
U.S., G-7 allies will impose new sanctions against Russia as soon as Monday -- Washington Post
New sanctions to target Russian energy -- SKY News
G-7 leaders agree to 'move swiftly' to impose new sanctions on Russia -- FOX News
G-7 agrees to slap more sanctions on Russia; markets on edge -- Economic Times
Russia's Credit Rating Cut To Just Above 'Junk' -- CPB News

My Comment: Why does this not surprise me .... European firms seek to minimize Russia sanctions -- CNBC

Russian Prime Minister Medvedev Says That Russia Is Ready To Face New Sanctions

Dmitry Medvedev (RIA Novosti / Sergey Guneev)

Medvedev Says Russia Ready to Withstand New Sanctions -- Voice of America

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has told lawmakers the country can weather the sanctions imposed by the West over the situation in Ukraine.

In a televised speech to the Russian parliament Tuesday, Medvedev said he will not let Russian citizens become hostage to political games and unfriendly actions.

The prime minister said he is confident his government will be able to minimize the consequences of sanctions and that it will act under what he calls new conditions. He assured lawmakers that Russian industries that rely on support from other markets would get it from the government.

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Russian Prime Minister Medvedev Says That Russia Is Ready To Face New Sanctions

Russia Hits Back at Biden: We Are Ready for 'Unfriendly Steps' -- NBC
Sanctions will make Russia stronger - Medvedev -- RT
Russia PM says certain can minimise sanctions impact -- Reuters
Russia is already feeling sanctions pain -- CNBC
US lawmakers call on sanctions against Gazprom, Russian banks -- RT
U.S. funds warn of risks from sanctions against Russia -- Reuters

My Comment: Zero Hedge has a must read post on why sanctions will not impact Russia as much as some in the West would like to see happen .... Why Putin Is Smiling At The Bond Market's Blockade Of Russia -- Zero Hedge

Comment #2: Also from Zero Hedge .... Putting The "Costs" Of US Sanctions On Russia In Context.

Is The U.S. Planning To Target Putin's Personal Wealth With Sanctions?

Hotline with Vladimir Putin (Archive). © RIA Novosti. Mikhail Klimentyev

This Means War: US To Target Putin's Personal $40 Billion Stash -- Zero Hedge

While the White House has continually threatened further sanctions against Russia for non-de-escalation (even as it un-de-escalates itself), the specifics of the additional sanctions have been sparse. German CEO warnings over blowback from economic sanctions... the "nonsense" of replacing Russian gas with US gas... the Russian warnings of "interdependence" and "boomerangs"... all reduce the West's arsenal of financial sanctions. But, as The Times of London reports, perhaps the US has found a crucial pain point for Putin - a sanctions regime that would target Putin's personal wealth, which includes a reported $40 billion stashed in Swiss bank accounts.

As The Hill reports,

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Update: U.S. could hit Putin with sanctions, State Dept official says -- Reuters

My Comment: The U.S. State Department is now denying these reports .... No personal sanctions in view against Putin - US State Department -- Voice of Russia

The U.S. - E.U. - Russia 'Sanctions War' Escalates

EU Broadens Sanctions Against Russia, Threatens Economic Measures -- RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, March 21 (RIA Novosti) – The EU has expanded its targeted sanctions against Russian officials blamed for destabilizing Ukraine, but has not yet agreed upon broader economic measures, European officials said Friday.

The move was the latest escalation in the clash over Ukraine’s Crimea, the greatest geopolitical showdown between Russia and the West since the end of the Cold War.

The EU expanded the number of Russian and Ukrainian officials under sanctions to 33 early Friday morning, just hours after the United States added 20 more officials to its own list.

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More News On U.S.- E.U. Sanctions On Russia

EU expands Russia sanctions list to 33 people, cancels EU-Russia summit -- RT
EU Adds 12 Russian, Crimean Officials To Sanctions List -- RIA Novosti
EU Slaps Sanctions on 12 More Russian Officials -- Wall Street Journal
EU seals closer ties with Ukraine, sanctions Russia -- AFP
Putin Allies Targeted by EU Sanctions Over Crimea Joining Russia -- Bloomberg Businessweek

European Union prepares for trade war with Russia over Crimea -- The Guardian
Trade war over Crimea looms as Russia closes Ukrainian-owned sweet factory -- The Guardian

Obama to meet with European and Asian allies to explore additional actions against Russia -- UPI
Obama extends sanctions against Russia to include wealthy Putin allies -- The Guardian
Crimea crisis: US sanction list is who's who of Vladimir Putin's inner circle -- The Guardian

Putin laughs off sanctions as he signs bills to transfer Crimea to Russia -- The Guardian
President Putin mocks US sanctions, vows not to retaliate -- RT
Putin laughs in the face of Western sanctions by asking for his £5,000 monthly salary to be transferred to the Russian bank singled out for punishment -- Daily Mail

US Imposing Sanctions to Assert Its Dominance – Lavrov -- RIA Novosti
Western sanctions against Russia ‘irrational and designed to assert US dominance' – Russian FM -- RT

Tit for Tat: Russia hits US officials with sanctions, as Obama expands penalties -- FOX News
Americans sanctioned by Putin -- Washington Post

EU won't rule out Abramovich sanctions -- The Telegraph
Russia may actually be hurting from the US, EU sanctions -- Global Post
The impact of economic sanctions on Russia -- Linda Yueh, BBC
Sanctions: Potential economic damage -- BBC
More US sanctions on Russia over Crimea. Why energy is largely untouched. -- David J. Unger, Christian Science Monitor
Sanctions bind Russia nation together, for now -- Elizabeth Piper, Reuters

Russia Bracing For Sanctions From The EU And U.S.

EU Draws Up List Of Top Russians To Face Sanctions -- Euronews

The EU has reportedly drawn up a list of senior figures in Russia’s elite who could be hit with sanctions.

Up to 130 top Russians face asset freezes and travel bans, European officials are quoted as saying.

Along with cabinet ministers, security officials, and senior Kremlin aides, German newspaper Bild also claimed on Friday that the CEO’s of Russia’s two biggest companies, Gazprom and Rosneft would also be on the list.

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More News On Sanctions Being Prepared Against Russia

EU and Russia on the brink of 'sanctions war' -- Deutsche Welle
West readies sanctions on Russia after Crimea vote -- AP
Gazprom, Rosneft chiefs will be on EU sanctions list, paper says -- Reuters
Top Russians close to Putin targeted in EU/U.S. visa bans: German paper -- Reuters
CEOs of biggest Russian firms could be hit by sanctions: paper -- Reuters
EU has drawn up list of 120-130 names for Russia sanctions -- Reuters
Russia counts cost as West tightens sanctions noose -- The Telegraph
Western sanctions will only strengthen Russian industry – Rogozin -- RT
Sanctions will badly squeeze Russian economy, ex-Putin aide says -- AFP
Imposing sanctions against Russia isn't a good approach -- RT
Russia’s wealthiest have billions at stake -- iol
Russian Richest Face Margin Calls With Billions at Stake -- Bloomberg
Russia Threatens Symmetrical Sanctions Against West -- RIA Novosti
Moscow won't exclude sanctions to counter US and EU - Ministry -- RT
China warns of dangerous Russia sanctions 'spiral' -- Reuters
How Will Western Sanctions Affect Russia's Economy? -- Moran Zhang, IBTimes
Why Berlin can't go it alone on Russia -- Deutsche Welle
Imposing sanctions against Russia isn't a good approach -- RT Editorial
Can European Economy Suffer From Russia Sanctions? -- Bloomberg TV
Would Sanctions Against Russia Even Work? -- Sam Ro, Business Insider
Factbox: Western sanctions against Russia -- Reuters

UN Agency Criticized For Breaking UN Sanctions On North Korea And Iran

UN Agency Slammed After Refusing US Request For Probe Into Iran, N. Korea Shipments -- FOX News

A United Nations agency under fire for shipments of computers and other sophisticated equipment to North Korea and Iran has apparently rejected a request by the U.S. State Department to conduct an independent probe into the controversy, drawing a pointed bipartisan rebuke from top lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

In a letter being released Tuesday, the leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee complained to World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Francis Gurry about his agency's refusal to cooperate. They accused the agency of locking down key documents while trying to root out the whistle-blowers who alerted others to the scandal -- and then rebuffing the State Department's request for an outside investigation.

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Update: U.S. House Committee Urges Fresh Probe of UN Agency WIPO -- Bloomberg Businessweek

My Comment: I use to work for the UN (ICAO in Montreal), so I have a very good idea on how they function. In short .... these UN bureaucrats and officials have a very good job that pays well with benefits. If something was done wrong .... as it appears to be in this case .... trust me .... there is going to be a lot of obstruction and CYA occurring .... especially when investigators start to request information that is embarrassing.