U.S. announces new sanctions on Russia, Russia vows tit-for-tat action

The United States announced sanctions on Russia for alleged election interference and malicious cyber activity, the White House said in a statement.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Russia's President Vladimir Putin. [File Photo: AFP]

The U.S. prohibits its financial institutions from buying primary market Russian government bonds issued after June 14, 2021, the statement said, adding that the U.S. has sanctioned 32 entities and individuals for interference in the 2020 U.S. election on the Russian government's behalf.

The United States has also expelled 10 personnel from Russia's diplomatic mission in Washington, including Russian intelligence officials, according to the statement, which listed Moscow's "efforts to undermine the conduct of free and fair democratic elections and democratic institutions in the United States and its allies and partners" as a reason for the sanctions.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said new U.S. sanctions go against the interests of the two countries and vowed to take retaliatory action.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the ministry had summoned U.S. Ambassador to Moscow John Sullivan.

Sources said the Kremlin told Sullivan on Wednesday that Washington must refrain from introducing new sanctions on Russia if it wants to mend ties.

"The United States is not ready to come to terms with the objective reality that there is a multipolar world that excludes American hegemony," Zakharova said in televised remarks. "A response to sanctions is inevitable."

NATO allies on Thursday backed the U.S. decision.

"NATO Allies support and stand in solidarity with the United States, following its 15 April announcement of actions to respond to Russia's destabilizing activities," the statement said.