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What did the April 2018 US Russia sanctions target?
Summary
A look back at the US sanctions announced on 6 April 2018 under a 2017 law, and the reasons Washington gave for them.
What was Washington targeting with its latest round of Russia sanctions on 12 April 2018? The measures had been announced a few days earlier, on 6 April 2018, and they were still the focus of attention for observers of Ukraine and the region.
Under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, the United States imposed sanctions on twelve Russian-owned companies, a Russian arms exporter and a bank. The U.S. cited several reasons, among them Russian meddling in the 2016 elections and military engagements in Ukraine, Crimea and Syria.
The legal basis
The act, known by its initials CAATSA, is a federal law that imposed sanctions on Iran, North Korea and Russia. It works by preventing U.S. companies from doing business with sanctioned entities.
The Senate passed the bill on 27 July 2017 by 98 votes to 2, after the House had approved it by 419 to 3. President Donald Trump signed it into law on 2 August 2017, although he believed the legislation was "seriously flawed".
Why it mattered for Ukraine
Ukraine and Crimea were named among the grounds for the April 2018 measures, alongside Syria and election interference. The sanctions targeted companies, an arms exporter and a bank, cutting them off from business with U.S. firms.
