Canada slaps new sanctions on Russia for 2nd anniversary of Ukraine war – National

Canada has joined the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union in slapping new sanctions on Russia on the eve of the second anniversary its invasion of Ukraine and in apparent retaliation for the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

The 47-year-old critic of the Kremlin died suddenly in an Arctic penal colony last Friday. He was serving a three-decade sentence that his allies have labelled as politically motivated.

Now, Canada has unveiled additional sanctions against 153 entities, and ten individuals, including an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin and senior officials at private and state-owned companies in Russia and Cyprus.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly made the announcement Friday saying Canada is “strengthening” sanctions by cracking down on “finance, logistics and sanctions evasion.”

“Most of the sanctioned entities are part of the Russian military-industrial complex, providing research and development, production, repairs, and other goods and services to Russia’s Ministry of Defence,” she added.

Canada also announced a ban on the exports of goods to Russia that could be used to make weapons.

“The prohibition applies to explosives, including detonators, that are used in the mining and construction industry,” said Joly, who was in New York Friday for discussions at the United Nations on the war in Ukraine.

Hours earlier, U.S. President Joe Biden announced the United States’ largest sanction package to date; 500 new sanctions targeting Russia, along with export restrictions on almost 100 entities which provide support to the Kremlin.

Biden also vowed to take additional measures to reduce Moscow’s energy revenues.

In a statement, the U.S. president said the measures will target individuals connected to Navalny’s imprisonment, Russia’s financial sector, defence industrial base, procurement networks, and sanctions dodgers.

On Thursday, Biden met with Navalny’s widow and daughter in San Franciso and said there was “no doubt” Putin was behind the death.

The Biden administration is increasing its reliance on financial measures against Russia to slow its ability to restock its arsenal, as Congress struggles to reach an agreement on Ukraine aid.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a fresh appeal for Western military support, as his country faces an acute ammunitions shortage.