What sanctions can the United States impose on Putin?

The financial punishment under consideration, if Russia invades Ukraine, are derived from all over them to personal ones for President Vladimir Putin, from cutting off access to American dollar and international banks to imposing sanctions on a former Olympic journalist who is thought to be Putin's girlfriend.

Publicly, the United States and European allies have promised to beat Russia financially as never before if Putin introduces his army in Ukraine. However, Western leaders have provided few details to the public, arguing that it is better for Putin to try to think for himself about the consequences he may face.

Several weeks after the start of negotiations, it is not clear whether Americans have reached a consensus with Europe on the kind of sanctions and how Russia should be punished.

Some of the actions under consideration are financial.

EXPLAY GODY

For the United States and their European allies, removing Russia from the financial system SW The IFT, which enables the transfer of money among banks across the globe, would be one of the hardest financial steps can be taken, damaging Russia's economy immediately and in the long term. The move could exclude Russia from most international financial transactions, including international profits from oil and gas production, which constitute more than 40% of the country's total revenues.

Allieds on both sides of the Atlantic considered this option even in 2014, when Russia invaded and annexed the Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula and supported separatist forces in eastern Ukraine. Russia then declared its expulsion from the financial system SW The IFT would be equivalent to a decision to declare war. The Allies, who have since been criticized for a very weak response to Russia's aggression in 2014, gave up this idea.

Since then Russia has been trying to develop its financial transfer system, with limited success.

The United States has earlier managed to convince the SWIFT system to exclude a country, Iran, due to its nuclear programme.

But Russia's expulsion from the SW system The IFT would also harm other economies, including that of the United States and its main ally, Germany. US lawmakers said last week that President Biden's administration is still analyzing the negative consequences of this action. Germany's Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, when asked by reporters about Russia's possibility of exclusion from SW system The IFT, expressed doubts about the efficiency of such an act.

The strongest vault is not always the most intelligent weapon”, Baerbox said.

THE CASTER BREAKE TEK EAST

The United States already has one of the most powerful financial weapons to use against Putin if he invades Ukraine, that of blocking Russia's access to the US dollar.

The dollar dollar is still dominated by financial transactions worldwide.

US dollar transactions are eventually approved through the Federal Reserve or American financial institutions. This would make Putin difficult to access the financial system of the United States, eliminating the possibility of making payments in dollars.

President Biden has told reporters that removing the ability of Russia and Russians to make transactions with US dollars is one of the options the United States is considering. Unlike exclusion from the SWIFT system and other financial measures, cutting access to the dollar is a measure the United States can make alone. Many Russian and Russian companies would be prevented from performing even routine transactions, such as salary lists or buying things, because they would not have access to the United States banking system.

CONT ROLET MBI EXORTIN

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki has confirmed that the United States is considering the possibility of placing export controls, removing access to technology and sophisticated programs that help traffic combat aircraft, passengers, tablets, video games and sophisticated TVs.

This could include Russia's entry into the countries' most restrictive group for export control purposes, listing it with Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria, officials said.

Such sanctions may also target critical Russian industries, including its civil protection and aviation sectors, which would hit Russian high-tech ambitions, such as artificial intelligence and quantum information.

T ACTION'S GRAY

President Biden's administration limited Russia's ability to borrow by preventing American financial institutions from buying Russian government treasury bonds directly from state institutions last year. But sanctions did not hit the secondary market, leaving it as a possible next step.

GAZ NORDESTREAM 2

Republicans and Democrats in Congress fought for years against expanding the new Russian gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 to Germany, arguing it would help Russia use gas supply control as a means to achieve its policy goals in Europe. rival bills in Congress would impose sanctions on gas operators. Republicans want to impose sanctions immediately, but Democrats say it should be done only if Russia attacks Ukraine.

President Biden's administration has previously been reluctant to impose sanctions on this level to avoid confrontation with allied Germany.

German officials say blocking the operation of the pipeline if Russia enters Ukraine may be an alternative if Russia invades Ukraine, but they have not provided further details about it in their public comments.

O PEAKS AND PLANTS PUTIN'S LOVE

One of the most widely used sanctions tactics from the United States is to impose sanctions on the close circle of leaders, families and civil and military circles. Putin, his friends and family can also face this tactic, along with powerful business oligarchs in Russia and their banks.

The comprehensive bill proposed by the Republican Indian lawmaker Jim Banks, backed by nearly 40 other Republican House of Representatives lawmakers, would begin with imposing sanctions against Russia even before another Russian attack on Ukraine, including exemption from the financial system. SWIFT and the sanctions associated with the Nord Stream 2.

The measures envisioned in the republican bill include imposing sanctions on more senior Russian officials, the Russian president's family and a woman reportedly having romantic ties with Mr. Putin, Alina Kabaeva, who won the gold medal in gymnastics at the 2004 Olympic Games. / VOA