INSIGHTi
Russia’s War Against Ukraine: Overview of
U.S. Sanctions and Other Responses
Updated December 20, 2022
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched an undeclared war against Ukraine, a country Russia first invaded
and partially occupied in 2014. The United States and many countries around the world have condemned
Russia’s “unprecedented military aggression” as “unprovoked and unjustified.” On March 2, 2022, the
U.N. General Assembly voted 141-5 to demand Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally
withdraw” from Ukraine (47 countries, including China and India, registered abstentions or did not vote).
In response to Russian efforts to annex additional Ukrainian territories in fall 2022, the General Assembly
declared by a vote of 143-5 that Russia’s actions had “no validity under international law.”
The United States, the European Union (EU), and others have imposed a series of increasingly severe
sanctions on Russia and substantially increased security, humanitarian, and economic assistance to
Ukraine. FY2022 and FY2023 supplemental appropriations to date have included $66 billion in
emergency assistance for Ukraine and other countries impacted by the war, as well as funding for U.S.
European Command and other U.S. agency operations. In response to a request by the President, the
proposed FY2023 omnibus appropriations bill includes about $45 billion in Ukraine-related supplemental
funds. Congress also has enacted legislation enabling the expedited leasing or lending of defense articles
to Ukraine (P.L. 117-118). The House and the Senate have passed related resolutions (H.Res. 956, S.Res.
546, S.Res. 589, S.Res. 623).
U.S. Sanctions
Prior to 2022, the United States had imposed sanctions on Russia in response to Moscow’s 2014 invasion
of Ukraine and other malign activities. Beginning in December 2021, the United States and others warned
Russia’s leadership that a new attack on Ukraine would lead to severe new sanctions (in addition to
increased security assistance to Ukraine and an enhanced NATO presence in Central and Eastern Europe).
Sanctions designations and related actions the Biden Administration and Congress have taken since
February 2022 include actions targeting Russian government assets, international trade, broad economic
sectors, and specific individuals and entities. These sanctions and related actions include the following:
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Restrictions on transactions with Russia’s central bank, limiting its ability to draw on
dollar-denominated foreign reserves, as well as on transactions with Russia’s Ministry of
Finance and National Wealth Fund
Export controls targeting Russia’s defense, aerospace, and maritime sectors; energy
production; and “a wide range of commercial and industrial operations”
A ban on the import to the United States of Russian oil and other energy products (P.L.
117-109; E.O. 14066) and suspension of normal trade relations with Russia and its ally
Belarus (P.L. 117-110)
Since February, the Biden Administration also has prohibited the following with respect to Russia:
New U.S. investment
U.S. import of gold, diamonds, seafood, and alcoholic beverages
Export of U.S. luxury goods and dollar-denominated banknotes
The provision of accounting, trust and corporate formation, management consulting, and
quantum computing services
Secondary-market transactions by U.S. financial institutions in Russian sovereign debt
Entrance into and use of U.S. airspace
Entrance into U.S. ports
U.S. trade or investment in Russia-occupied regions of eastern Ukraine
The Administration also has targeted Russian individuals and entities (including with restrictions on
transactions and access to U.S.-based property). New targets since February 2022 include the following:
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, members of
Russia’s Security Council and Administration (including ministers of foreign affairs,
defense, and finance, and heads of the armed forces and central bank), and regional
governors
Russia’s legislature (the State Duma and Federation Council), Central Election
Commission, and their members
Seven of Russia’s largest banks, including the largest two (Sberbank and VTB Bank),
which account for 80% of bank deposits
State development bank VEB and the Russian Direct Investment Fund
Defense, industrial, and technology conglomerate Rostec
Alrosa, the world’s largest diamond-mining company
Severstal and MMK, major steel producers
Skolkovo, a prominent technology development park
Nord Stream 2 AG, the parent company for a Russian natural gas pipeline project to
Europe
Dozens of Russia’s Kremlin-connected business elite (many of whom are referred to as
oligarchs), their family members, and business executives
Dozens of aerospace and defense-industrial firms, disinformation and propaganda
operations, and sanctions evaders
Russian or proxy occupation officials
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The Administration also has banned entry into the United States for thousands of Russian officials and
military personnel.
In addition, the Administration has imposed restrictions against new equity investment and financing for
several companies including Gazprom, a state-owned energy company and Russia’s largest firm;
Sovcomflot, Russia’s largest maritime and freight shipping firm; and Russian Railways.
International Sanctions
The EU, the United Kingdom (UK), other countries in Europe (including Norway and Switzerland),
Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea, among others, also have responded to Russia’s
war against Ukraine with sanctions. Many of these sanctions are identical or similar to U.S. sanctions.
The EU, with U.S. support, directed the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication
(SWIFT) and other specialized financial messaging services to cease serving 10 leading Russian financial
institutions. In addition, two days before Russia’s attack, the German government suspended certification
of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
Starting December 5, 2022, the EU has banned most Russian oil imports. The United States has joined the
EU, the UK, Canada, Japan, and Australia in setting a global price cap of $60 per barrel on Russian oil
exports by banning nationals from providing maritime transport services for transactions above that price.
Since March 2022, the U.S. Departments of Justice and the Treasury have collaborated with counterpart
agencies internationally in forming a Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs (REPO) Task Force to
strengthen enforcement of sanctions and other measures.
In addition to sanctions, hundreds of U.S. and international companies have exited the Russian market.
For more, see CRS In Focus IF12062, New Financial and Trade Sanctions Against Russia; and CRS In
Focus IF12092, The Economic Impact of Russia Sanctions.
Author Information
Cory Welt
Specialist in Russian and European Affairs
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff
to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of
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