The UK authorities imposed sanctions against correspondent accounts of Sberbank, and also banned clearing operations in pounds. The corresponding document was published on March 1 on the website of the Ministry of Finance of the country.
“PJSC Sberbank participates in the acquisition of benefits from the Russian government or supports it,” the publication says.
The document also states that Sberbank is “an exceptionally significant player in the Russian financial services sector, which is of strategic importance to the Russian government.”
Sberbank, in turn, said that the sanctions imposed by Britain would not affect Russian customers.
Earlier in the day, US financial corporation Mastercard blocked a number of Russian financial institutions from accessing the payment network as a result of sanctions orders against Russia. The international payment system Visa has declared its readiness to comply with the anti-Russian sanctions imposed by the West.
On February 28, the US Treasury Department banned transactions with the Russian Central Bank, the Treasury and the National Welfare Fund. In addition, on February 24, the United States imposed sanctions on a number of companies with state participation or organizations important to the economy and on “two companies with a predominance of private capital.” The list includes Gazprombank, Alfa-Bank, Sberbank, Otkritie Bank, Sovcombank, VTB, Rosselkhozbank, Moscow Credit Bank (MKB) and Novikombank. Following the United States, other countries have imposed sanctions against Russian banks.
Against the backdrop of Western sanctions, the Russian Central Bank announced additional measures to support credit institutions. On Monday, the regulator raised the key rate to 20%, noting that this decision will help maintain financial and price stability, protect citizens’ savings from depreciation, and also compensate for increased devaluation and inflation risks. Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed to ensure the preservation of all lending rates specified in loan agreements after the increase in the key rate.
Western sanctions followed in response to the Russian-led operation to protect the Donbass, the beginning of which Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24. After that, the Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky accused the Russian Federation of hitting the country’s military infrastructure and introduced martial law throughout the country. He later severed diplomatic relations with Russia.
The Russian side emphasized that it does not hatch plans for the occupation of Ukraine, and strikes are carried out only on the military infrastructure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Before that, on February 21, Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the DNR and LNR, as well as treaties of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance with the republics. The documents were ratified the next day.
The head of state made the relevant decisions against the backdrop of the aggravation of the situation in Donbass that began on February 17. The DPR and LPR reported heavy shelling by Ukrainian security forces, including from heavy weapons. The republics announced a general mobilization and evacuation of civilians to the territory of Russia.
For more up-to-date videos and details about the situation in Donbass, watch the Izvestia TV channel.
Source: IZ
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
