The U.S. Treasury Department won't scale back sanctions against Russia until it gives Ukraine back control of its side of the border with Russia. | AP Photo Treasury expands sanctions linked to Russian moves in Ukraine

The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday added nearly three-dozen people to its Specially Designated Nationals list, a catalog of people and entities restricted from doing business with American citizens.

Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) identified 34 people and organizations under sanctions from executive orders concerning Russia and Ukraine. Treasury called on Russia to do its part while underscoring that the U.S. will maintain its sanctions on the country as it seeks to resolve the crisis in Ukraine with diplomacy.


The U.S. will not start rolling back sanctions until Russia fully puts in place its commitments under the Minsk Agreement, under which Russia is required to give Ukraine back control of its side of the border with Russia, Treasury said.

“It is critical that Russia takes the steps necessary to comply with its obligations under the Minsk Agreements and to ensure a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine,” said John E. Smith, acting director of OFAC. “By more closely matching our designations with those of our international partners and thwarting attempts to evade sanctions¸ we are once again demonstrating the United States’ unwavering resolve to pressure Russia to respect the security and sovereignty of Ukraine.”

Fourteen parties were linked to people involved in evading existing sanctions or organizations at least 50 percent owned by a designated entity; six separatists were identified for threatening either the security or stability of Ukraine; two former Ukrainian government officials were pointed out for being complicit in misappropriating public assets and/or threatening the security or stability of their country; and a dozen organizations were pinpointed that operated in Ukraine’s Crimean region.

Treasury said some of the people and organizations it highlighted Tuesday have also been identified by the European Union, noting a unified international response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.