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On the record: The U.S. administration’s actions on Russia

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin shake hands as they meet in Helsinki, Finland July 16, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC19BE6D3090

The Trump administration’s policy actions often seemed at odds with the President’s rhetoric. To set the record on policy actions, rather than rhetoric, Alina Polyakova and Filippos Letsas tracked the administration’s concrete actions on Russia from 2017 to 2019.

Trump Administration actions on Russia

Total number of policy actions: 52
*Policy actions in black, relevant events in red below.

2019

Dec 5
Sanctions – In response to $100 million bank hacking scheme

A Russian-based cybercriminal organization called “Evil Corp” was sanctioned for using malware to steal more than $100 million from banks and financial institutions.

Sep 30
Sanctions – In response to 2018 election interference attempt

Four entities and seven individuals, including Russian financier Yevgeniy Prigozhin, were sanctioned over attempted interference in the 2018 U.S. midterm elections.

Sep 26
Sanctions – In response to sanctions-evading scheme for Syria

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control identified Moscow-based Maritime Assistance LLC as the head of a “sanctions evasion scheme” to deliver jet fuel to Syria.

Aug 2
Sanctions – In response to Salisbury attack

The U.S. Department of State announced more sanctions against Russia over its use of a nerve agent in Salisbury in 2018. The sanctions fall under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act and mean the U.S. will oppose loans and assistance by international financial institutions, and restrictions on the export on Department of Commerce-controlled goods and technology.

May 16
Sanctions – In response to human rights abuses

A Chechen group and 5 Russian individuals were sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act over allegations of human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings and the torture of LGBT people.

May 14
Meeting – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Russia
May 1
Statement – On democracy in Venezuela

President Trump denounced Russia’s continued support for the Maduro regime in Venezuela.

Apr 24
Statement – In response to Russian assault on Ukraine’s sovereignty

The U.S. Department of State condemned Russia’s decision to grant expedited citizenship to residents of Russia-controlled eastern Ukraine.

Mar 15
Sanctions – In response to Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine

6 Russian individuals and 8 entities were sanctioned for their involvement in attacks on Ukrainian naval vessels in the Kerch Strait, the annexation of Crimea, and backing of separatist government elections in eastern Ukraine. These actions complement sanctions also taken by the European Union and Canada on the same day.

Mar 14
Statement – In response to escalation of attacks against Idlib, Syria

The U.S. Department of State condemned Russian offensive operations against northern Hama and southern Idlib in Syria.

Mar 11
Sanctions – In response to dealings with Venezuela

The United States sanctioned Evrofinance Mosnarbank, a Moscow-based bank jointly owned by Russian and Venezuelan state-owned companies, for attempting to circumvent U.S. sanctions on Venezuela.

Mar 4
Notice – Continuation of national emergency with respect to Ukraine

President Trump announced the continuation for one year of the national emergency declared with respect to Ukraine.

Feb 27
Statement – On Russian occupation of Crimea

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement condemning Russia’s illegal actions in Crimea and its continued aggression against Ukraine.

Feb 1
Statement – Withdrawing from the INF Treaty

The U.S. administration announced it would suspend its obligations under the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty because Russia was not complying with it.

Jan 29
Release – Worldwide Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community

U.S. intelligence officials delivered their annual assessment of global threats to national security to Congress, identifying cooperation between China and Russia as their top concern.

2018

Dec 21
Statement – Increasing security assistance to Ukraine’s navy

The U.S. Department of State announced it would provide an additional $10 million in Foreign Military Financing to further build Ukraine’s naval capabilities in response to Russian attacks near the Kerch Strait.

Dec 19
Sanctions – In response to Russia’s continued disregard for international norms

18 Russian individuals were sanctioned for their involvement in a wide range of malign activities, including attempting to interfere in the 2016 U.S. election, efforts to undermine international organizations through cyber-enabled means, and the Skripal attack in the United Kingdom.

Dec 7
Statement – In response to Russian false allegations on chemical weapons use in Aleppo, Syria

The U.S. Department of State refuted Russia’s and the Assad regime’s false accusations that the opposition and extremist groups conducted a chlorine attack in northwestern Aleppo.

Dec 4
Statement – Withdrawing from the INF Treaty

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the U.S. would withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 60 days if Russia did not return to compliance.

Nov 26
Statements – In response to dangerous escalation in the Kerch Strait

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley condemned Russia’s decision to intercept, fire on, and seize three Ukrainian navy vessels in the Black Sea.

Oct 19
Indictments – In response to attempted interference in U.S. political system

A Russian woman was charged for her alleged role in a conspiracy to interfere in the U.S. political system, including the 2018 midterm election.

Oct 4
Indictments – In response to malicious cyber-related activities

7 officers of the Russian military intelligence service (GRU) were charged for their involvement in hacking Olympic athletes, anti-doping organizations, and chemical weapons monitors.

Sep 20
Sanctions – In response to malicious activities

33 Russian individuals and entities were sanctioned for their role in U.S. election interference and their involvement in supporting military operations in Syria and Ukraine. A Chinese entity and its director were also sanctioned for purchasing jet fighters and missiles from Russia.

Sep 12
Executive Order – Imposing sanctions for election interference

President Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on any nation or individual who authorizes, directs, or sponsors meddling operations in U.S. elections. The order would allow for the freezing of assets and the limiting of foreign access to U.S. financial institutions, as well as a cutoff of U.S. investment in sanctioned companies.

Sep 6
Statement – In response to Salisbury attack

The United States issued a joint statement with France, Germany, Canada, and the United Kingdom, reiterating its outrage at the use of a chemical nerve agent in Salisbury and expressing full confidence in the British assessment that the suspects were officers of the Russian military intelligence service (GRU).

Aug 21
Sanctions – In response to malicious cyber-related activities

2 Russian individuals, a Russian company, and a Slovakian company were sanctioned for helping another Russian company avoid sanctions over the country’s malicious cyber-related activities.

Aug 21
Testimony – Assistant Secretary of State A. Wess Mitchell before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Aug 8
Sanctions – In response to Salisbury attack

The U.S. administration announced it would restrict remaining sources of foreign assistance and arms sales to Russia, and deny U.S. credit to Russia, including through the Export-Import Bank. Restrictions would also prohibit the export of security-sensitive goods and technology.

Jul 25
Testimony – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Jul 25
Declaration – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issues Crimea Declaration

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced a formal policy reaffirming the U.S. rejection of Russia’s annexation of Crimea. The announcement was released an hour before his scheduled testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Jul 16
Meeting – Trump-Putin Summit in Helsinki, Finland
Jul 13
Indictments – In response to malicious cyber-related activities

12 Russian intelligence officers were sanctioned for their involvement in hacking the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton presidential campaign.

Jul 11-12
Meeting – NATO Summit in Brussels, Belgium
Jun 11
Sanctions – In response to malicious cyber-related activities

5 Russian entities and 3 individuals – all closely linked to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) – were sanctioned.

Apr 6
Sanctions – In response to worldwide malign activity

7 Russian oligarchs and the companies they own or control, 17 senior Russian government officials, and a state-owned Russian weapons trading company (and a bank it owns) were sanctioned for their roles in advancing Russia’s malign activities – including the continued occupation of Crimea, engaging in cyberattacks, and supporting Assad’s regime.

Mar 26
Expulsions – Russian intelligence officers in Washington and Seattle

48 Russian intelligence officers from the Russian embassy in Washington were expelled, and the Russian consulate in Seattle was ordered to close, in response to the Skripal poisoning in the United Kingdom.

Mar 25
Expulsions – Russian intelligence officers in New York

12 Russian intelligence officers from the Russian Mission to the United Nations in New York were expelled for actions deemed to be abuses of their privilege of residence.

Mar 15
Sanctions – In response to election meddling and cyberattacks

5 Russian entities and 19 individuals were sanctioned for conducting a series of cyberattacks and interfering in the 2016 U.S. elections.

Mar 15
Alert – In response to Russian government cyber activity

The Department of Homeland Security and FBI issued a joint Technical Alert on Russian government actions targeting U.S. government entities, as well as organizations in the energy, nuclear, commercial facilities, water, aviation, and critical manufacturing sectors.

Mar 15
Statement – In response to Salisbury attack

The United States issued a joint statement with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom strongly condemning the Salisbury nerve agent attack and suggesting Russia was responsible for it.

Mar 14
Statement – In response to Salisbury attack

The U.S. administration issued a statement expressing its solidarity to the United Kingdom over the nerve agent attack in Salisbury, and sharing its assessment that Russia was responsible for it.

Mar 4
Statement – In response to Russian and Syrian regime attacks on Eastern Gouta, Syria

The U.S. administration condemned the military offensive that the Assad regime, backed by Russia and Iran, had been conducting in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta region.

Mar 4
Poisoning – Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, England
Feb 16
Indictments – In response to election meddling and cyberattacks

3 Russian entities and 13 individuals were indicted for conducting information operations to influence the 2016 U.S. elections.

Feb 15
Statement – In response to “NotPetya”

The U.S. administration condemned the Russian military for launching a destructive cyberattack in June 2017, also known as “NotPetya.”

Feb 13
Statement – Proposing sanctions on Latvian bank involved in illicit Russian-related activity

The Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network proposed a new rule to ban ABLV Bank AS, Latvia’s third-biggest bank, for its involvement in illicit Russia-related activity.

Feb 7
Military Action – In response to attack on U.S.-held base in Deir Ezzor, Syria

U.S. troops killed hundreds of Syrian forces backed by Russian mercenaries (as well as Russian private military contractors). The American bombing was launched in response to a surprise attack on a U.S.-held base in the oil-rich Deir Ezzor region in Syria.

Jan 29
Release – Russian ‘Oligarch list’

The Department of the Treasury released a list of the most significant senior foreign political figures and oligarchs in the Russian Federation that could potentially be at risk of sanctions (114 senior political figures close to Russian President Putin and 96 oligarchs with a net worth of $1 billion or more).

Jan 26
Sanctions – In response to Ukraine conflict

21 individuals and 9 entities were sanctioned in connection with the conflict in Ukraine and Russia’s occupation of Crimea.

Jan 19
Release – National Defense Strategy

The Department of Defense released its National Defense Strategy, identifying Russia and China as strategic competitors to the United States.

2017

Dec 22
Announcement – Provision of lethal weapons to Ukraine

The U.S. administration approved a plan to provide Ukraine with enhanced defensive capabilities to help it fight off Russia-backed separatists.

Dec 20
Sanctions – Global Magnitsky Act

52 people and entities from Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and elsewhere were sanctioned for alleged human rights violations and corruption.

Dec 19
Export restrictions – In response to INF Treaty violation

The Department of Commerce announced new licensing and export restrictions on Russian companies Novator and Titan-Barrikady over production of a cruise missile prohibited by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF).

Dec 18
Release – National Security Strategy

The White House released its National Security Strategy, identifying Russia and China as adversarial to the United States.

Nov 10-11
Meeting – APEC Economic Leaders’ Summit in Da Nang, Vietnam
Oct 27
Release – Guidance on CAATSA Section 231(d)

The Department of State issued public guidance on the implementation of Section 231 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act of 2017 (CAATSA). The guidance specified 39 entities that the Department of State determined are part of – or are operating on behalf of – the Russian defense or intelligence sectors.

Sep 13
Ban – Government use of Kaspersky Labs software

The U.S. administration banned the use of Kaspersky Labs software on government computers due to Kaspersky’s ties to Russian intelligence services.

Aug 2
Legislation – President Trump signs Russia sanctions bill into law (CAATSA)

President Trump signed into law the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions act (CAATSA), enacting new sanctions on Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

Jul 7-8
Meeting – G-20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany
May 26-27
Meeting – G-7 Summit in Sicily, Italy
May 24-25
Meeting – NATO Summit in Brussels, Belgium
Mar 15
Indictments – In response to 2014 Yahoo hack

Three Russian individuals were charged for the 2014 Yahoo hack, including two officers of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).

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