NYT: New sanctions against Russia will affect consumer electronics

New US sanctions against Russia in the event of its “attack” on Ukraine could affect the export of any consumer goods using US-made or US-developed electronics, according to The New York Times (NYT), citing US officials.

Restrictions may apply to phones, computers, refrigerators, dishwashers and other electronics, including those made in Europe, South Korea and other foreign countries.

The sources clarified that measures against the largest Russian financial institutions that rely on international money transfers are allegedly also being considered; sanctions on Russian fighters, air defense and anti-satellite defense systems and space systems; restrictions on innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

According to the newspaper, in the past weeks the White House assessed the sanctions imposed on Moscow during the presidency of Barack Obama in connection with the annexation of Crimea to Russia. As a result, it was concluded that the restrictions caused damage to the Russian economy, but did not achieve the key strategic goal – to force the Russian authorities to leave Ukraine.

Officials later told media outlets, including Reuters and the Associated Press, on condition of anonymity that they were also considering adding Russia to the list of countries subject to the most stringent export restrictions. Now the group of such countries includes Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria.

The leaders of the 27 EU countries at the summit in Brussels unanimously decided to extend the economic sectoral sanctions against Russia for six months. European sanctions against the Russian Federation were introduced after the annexation of Crimea to Russia in 2014. In the same year, Russia introduced counter-sanctions, banning the import of a number of food products from Europe.