WASHINGTON, Oct 22 — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is imposing further sanctions as a result of Russia’s lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine. Today’s actions increase pressure on Russia’s energy sector and degrade the Kremlin’s ability to raise revenue for its war machine and support its weakened economy. The United States will continue to advocate for a peaceful resolution to the war, and a permanent peace depends entirely on Russia’s willingness to negotiate in good faith. Treasury will continue to use its authorities in support of a peace process.
“Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate ceasefire,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “Given President Putin’s refusal to end this senseless war, Treasury is sanctioning Russia’s two largest oil companies that fund the Kremlin’s war machine. Treasury is prepared to take further action if necessary to support President Trump’s effort to end yet another war. We encourage our allies to join us in and adhere to these sanctions.”
Today’s action targets Russia’s two largest oil companies, Open Joint Stock Company Rosneft Oil Company (Rosneft) and Lukoil OAO (Lukoil), which are now designated. Rosneft is a vertically integrated energy company specializing in the exploration, extraction, production, refining, transport, and sale of petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products. Lukoil engages in the exploration, production, refining, marketing, and distribution of oil and gas in Russia and internationally.
Rosneft and Lukoil are being designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the energy sector of the Russian Federation economy.
Additionally, OFAC is designating a number of Russia-based Rosneft and Lukoil subsidiaries, a list of which is available in Annex 1 below. All entities owned 50 percent or more, directly or indirectly, by Rosneft and Lukoil are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024, even if not designated by OFAC.
ANNEX 1: ROSNEFT AND LUKOIL SUBSIDIARIES
The following Russia-based Lukoil and Rosneft subsidiaries are being designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the energy sector of the Russian Federation economy:
Lukoil subsidiary Limited Liability Company Lukoil Perm is involved in geological exploration and oil and gas production in Russia.
Lukoil subsidiary Lukoil Aik A Limited Liability Company is involved in oil and gas production in Russia.
Lukoil subsidiary Lukoil Kaliningradmorneft is developing onshore and offshore oil and gas fields in Russia.
Lukoil subsidiary Lukoil West Siberia Limited is involved in oil and gas production in Russia.
Lukoil subsidiary Russian Innovation Fuel and Energy Company is involved in the development, production, testing, and implementation of new technologies, techniques, and equipment for the development of hard-to-recover hydrocarbon reserves and enhanced oil recovery in Russia.
Lukoil subsidiary Uraloil is developing oil and gas fields in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Kuibyshevskii Neftepererabatyvayushchii Zavod operates an oil refinery in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary AO Sibneftegaz is developing gas and gas condensate fields in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary Bashneft Dobycha is developing almost 200 hydrocarbon fields in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary CJSC Vankorneft is developing a large oil and gas field in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary Joint Stock Company East Siberian Oil and Gas Company is developing an oil and gas condensate field in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary Joint Stock Company Grozneftegaz produces oil and gas in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary Joint Stock Company Rospan International is developing oil and gas deposits in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary Joint Stock Company Ryazan Oil Refinery Company operates an oil refinery in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary Joint Stock Company Samaraneftegaz produces oil in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary Kharampurneftegaz is developing a gas field in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary Limited Liability Company Bashneft Polus explores, produces, and refines oil and oil products in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary Limited Liability Company Kynsko Chaselskoe Neftegaz manages oil and gas condensate fields in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary Limited Liability Company RN Purneftegaz is developing oil and gas fields in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary Limited Liability Company RN Tuapse Oil Refinery operates an oil refinery in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary Limited Liability Company RN-Krasnodarneftegaz produces oil and gas in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary OJSC Achinsk Refinery operates an oil refinery in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary OJSC Novokuybyshevsk Refinery operates an oil refinery in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary OJSC Orenburgneft produces oil and gas in Russia and operates a gas processing plant in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary OJSC Samotlorneftegaz is involved in the exploration and development of oil and gas fields in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary OJSC Syzran Refinery operates an oil refinery in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary PJSC Verkhnechonskneftegaz is developing a large oil and gas condensate field in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary Public Joint Stock Company Saratov Oil Refinery operates an oil refinery in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary Publichnoe Aktsionernoe Obschestvo Udmurtneft Imeni VI Kudinova produces oil in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary RN Komsomolskiy Refinery operates an oil refinery in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary RN Nyaganneftegaz is involved in crude oil production in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary RN Uvatneftegaz is developing almost 40 oil or oil and gas condensate fields in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary RN Yuganskneftegaz produces oil in Russia.
Rosneft subsidiary Taas Yuryakh Neftegazodobycha is developing an oil and gas field in Russia.
SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS
As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked persons.
Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC’s Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC’s enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities with designated or otherwise blocked persons.
In addition, foreign financial institutions that conduct or facilitate significant transactions or provide any service involving Russia’s military-industrial base, including any persons blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024, run the risk of being sanctioned by OFAC. For additional guidance, please see the updated OFAC advisory, “Updated Guidance for Foreign Financial Institutions on OFAC Sanctions Authorities Targeting Support to Russia’s Military-Industrial Base,” as well as OFAC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 1146-1152, 1181-1182.
Furthermore, engaging in certain transactions involving the persons designated today may risk the imposition of secondary sanctions on participating foreign financial institutions. OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on opening or maintaining, in the United States, a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that knowingly conducts or facilitates any significant transaction on behalf of a person who is designated pursuant to the relevant authority.
The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, or to submit a request, please refer to OFAC’s guidance on Filing a Petition for Removal from an OFAC List.
Any persons included on the SDN List pursuant to E.O. 14024 may be subject to additional export restrictions administered by the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).
3月9日华盛顿报道,美国国务卿卢比奥(Marco Rubio)今天宣布,正式将阿富汗列为支持非法拘留的国家,为特朗普政府实施制裁和出口管制等限制措施铺平了道路,以此惩罚塔利班任意监禁美国公民的行为。 卢比奥今天在一份声明中表示:“塔利班继续使用恐怖主义手段,绑架人质以勒索赎金或寻求政策让步。这些卑鄙的行径必须停止。” 卢比奥指出:“由于塔利班持续不公正地拘留我们的美国同胞和其他外国公民,美国人前往阿富汗并不安全。塔利班必须立即释放科伊尔(Dennis Coyle)、哈比比(Mahmoud Habibi),以及所有在阿富汗被不公正拘留的美国人,并承诺永远停止人质外交。” 卢比奥今天在美国国务院举办的“全国人质和被错误拘留者日”纪念活动中表示:“他们把美国人视为可以随意攫取并在未来进行交易的商品。这种循环必须停止,这就是阿富汗被列入‘恐怖组织’名单的原因。” 今天在美国国务院举办的共同纪念每年3月9日“全国人质和被错误拘留者日”活动中,一面代表被错误拘留的美国公民和人质的国旗在美国国务院大楼外升起,美国政府官员、前美国公民被拘留者及其家属观看了升旗仪式。 在今天的活动上,美国质应对事务特使亚博勒(Adam Boehler)表示,自特朗普总统第二个任期开始以来,本届政府已帮助175名被错误拘留在海外的人员回国,其中包括100名美国公民。 目前仍被拘留在阿富汗的美国公民中,包括卢比奥在讲话中提到的64岁科罗拉多州学者科伊尔。在特朗普总统第二个任期开始之际,另一名美国公民科贝特(Ryan Corbett)获释仅6天后,科伊尔就被绑架。科伊尔目前被塔利班情报总局(TGDI)单独监禁,据其家人称,他尚未被提起任何指控。 卢比奥今天在华盛顿还会见了被塔利班监禁的科伊尔姐妹莫莉(Molly Long)和艾米(Amy Sessions)。…
3月9日华盛顿报道,美国人工智能公司安特罗皮克(Anthropic)今天起诉特朗普政府将该公司列入“供应链风险”黑名单。 包括美国国防部、财政部、国务院和总务管理局在内的十几个联邦机构被列为本案被告。该诉状称:“本案后果极其严重。被告试图摧毁一家全球发展最快的私营企业所创造的经济价值,而这家企业在负责任地开发一项对国家至关重要的新兴技术方面处于领先地位。” 上个月,特朗普总统在社交媒体上发帖,指示联邦机构“立即停止”使用安特罗皮克的所有技术。特朗普总统表示:“我们将决定我们国家的命运——而不是由一些失控的、激进的左翼人工智能公司,以及那些对现实世界一无所知的人来掌控。” 总部位于旧金山的安特罗皮克公司在向加州北区联邦地区法院提交的诉状中称,这些举措“史无前例且非法”,并对该公司“造成了不可挽回的损害”。 诉状指出:“安特罗皮克公司与联邦政府的合同已被取消。与私营企业签订的现有和未来合同也面临风险,短期内将造成数亿美元的损失。除了这些直接的经济损失外,安特罗皮克的声誉和受宪法第一修正案保护的核心自由也受到攻击。如果得不到司法救济,这些损害将在未来几周和几个月内不断加剧。” 这场诉讼是人工智能公司安特罗皮克与特朗普政府之间持续两周的激烈争论的最新进展,这场争论的焦点在于该公司的人工智能模型如何在战场和其他领域得到应用。 在双方的争端于上月底公开化之前,安特罗皮克公司曾是美国政府众多机构的早期合作伙伴,助力政府利用尖端人工智能技术快速升级系统和能力。 此前,安特罗皮克公司3月5日证实,该公司已被特朗普政府正式列为供应链风险企业。这一非同寻常的举措,历来只针对外国敌对势力。这意味着国防供应商和承包商必须保证,在与五角大楼的合作中,他们不会使用安特罗皮克公司的名为Claude的模型。 安特罗皮克公司已向法院申请撤销供应链风险认定,并请求在诉讼进行期间暂缓执行相关行动。该公司还向位于华盛顿特区的美国联邦上诉法院提起诉讼,要求对国防部的决定进行正式复审。 今年7月,安特罗皮克公司与美国国防部签署了一份价值2亿美元的合同,成为首家将其技术部署到美国国防部机密网络中的人工智能实验室。该公司一直在重新谈判合同的后续条款,但由于双方在模型的使用方式上存在分歧,谈判陷入僵局。 美国国防部希望安特罗皮克公司允许该机构在所有合法用途下不受限制地使用其人工智能模型,而该公司则希望确保其模型不会被用于全自动武器或国内大规模监控。 据报道,即使在安特罗皮克公司被列入黑名单后,其模型仍然被用于支持美国在伊朗的军事行动。 该公司的一位发言人表示:“寻求司法审查并不会改变我们长期以来利用人工智能保护国家安全的承诺,但这对于保护我们的业务、客户和合作伙伴来说是必要的一步。我们将继续寻求一切可能的解决办法,包括与政府对话。”
3月9日华盛顿报道,美国众议院共和党人正向特朗普政府施压,要求三名内阁部长解释中国公民是否正在利用美国领土上的出生公民权和签证计划,以确保其在美国境内的长期影响力。 德克萨斯州共和党籍美国众议员罗伊(Chip Roy)和威斯康星州共和党籍蒂芙尼(Tom Tiffany),以及其他32名共和党议员联名致信即将卸任的美国国土安全部长诺姆(Kristi Noem)、美国国务卿卢比奥(Marco Rubio),以及美国内政部长伯古姆(Doug Burgum),要求限制中国公民利用“生育旅游”和北马里亚纳群岛免签政策,从而构成对美国国家安全风险。 罗伊和蒂芙尼议员敦促美国政府终止向北马里亚纳群岛的中国公民提供的任何假释或免签项目,并全面说明涉及中国公民的生育旅游规模。 罗伊议员表示:“美国公民身份是一项神圣的信任,而非可以被利用的漏洞。当像中国共产党这样的外国敌对势力能够利用生育旅游和免签项目来扩大我们境内的影响力时,我们必须恢复移民制度的完整性,捍卫共和国的主权。” 蒂芙尼议员认为,“共产主义中国利用‘生育旅游’,将妇女送往北马里亚纳群岛,仅仅是为了生育并为她们的孩子获得美国公民身份”,并补充说,“现在是时候堵住这个漏洞,结束这种滥用行为,保护我们的国家安全了。” 议员们援引报告称,估计有75万至150万中国公民通过出生权政策和生育旅游获得了美国公民身份,但联邦机构尚未公开证实这些数字。 在信中,罗伊和蒂芙尼要求国土安全部、国务院和内政部提供数据,说明自2009年以来,有多少儿童的父母一方或双方为中国公民,其中有多少儿童已达到投票年龄,以及有多少儿童在美国登记投票。 他们还询问这些人中是否有人与中国共产党有联系,并要求提供根据北马里亚纳群岛特定移民项目入境的中国公民人数。 根据美国宪法第十四修正案,在美国领土出生的人通常出生即获得公民权。争论的焦点在于,外国公民是否会专程前往美国生育,以使他们的子女获得公民身份——这种做法通常被称为“生育旅游”。 近年来,美国联邦检察官对生育旅游机构的经营者提起刑事诉讼,尤其是在加利福尼亚州,一些组织者因帮助外国公民谎报旅行目的以在美国生育而被判犯有签证欺诈和共谋罪。…
3月9日特拉维夫报道,以色列紧急救援组织“大卫之星”(Magen David Adom)今天在社交媒体上用希伯来语发布消息称,伊朗导弹袭击以色列中部地区后,两名男子伤势严重。 该组织在社交媒体上发布最新消息称:“在以色列中部地区发生的另一起事件中,大卫之星的医护人员正在为一名约30岁、身受弹片伤势严重的男子提供医疗救治,并将其送往特拉维夫附近的谢巴医疗中心(Sheba Medical Center)。” 以色列国防军(IDF)也在最新消息中表示,其人员正在前往事发地点进行救援。 此外,今天来自美国五角大楼的消息称,一名在沙特被伊朗袭击中丧生的美军士兵身份已确认为是来自肯塔基州格伦代尔的美军中士彭宁顿。 31岁的彭宁顿于3月1日美美驻沙特军事基地遭到伊朗袭击时受伤。美国战争部确认,他因伤势过重于3月8日去世。 据报道,彭宁顿当时正在美军驻沙特军事基地的一个战略雷达站,该雷达站是导弹防御预警系统的一部分。美国副总统万斯表示,彭宁顿的遗体将于今晚运回美国。
3月8日纽约报道,东京当地时间3月9日周一上午,日本日经(Nikkei)225指数,以及韩国综合股价指数(KOSPI)早盘双双暴跌约6%,领跌区域性股市,此前原油价格自2022年以来首次突破每桶100美元大关。 日本日经225指数今天早盘暴跌6.22%,自今年2月6日以来首次跌破53000点大关,而东证(Topix)指数下跌5.27%。韩国综合股价指数(KOSPI)下跌6.68%,触发韩国综合股价指数200期货的熔断机制。上周该基准指数在3月4日暴跌超过12%,创下单日最大跌幅,熔断机制也曾被触发。 澳大利亚S&P/ASX 200指数早盘下跌3.68%。布伦特原油期货飙升16.1%,至每桶107.61美元;美国西德克萨斯中质原油期货价格上涨近17.7%,至每桶107.02美元。 此次油价飙升是由于特朗普总统下令空袭伊朗,以及伊朗宣布发起军事报复反击和关闭霍尔木兹海峡关闭后,包括科威特、伊朗和阿联酋在内的中东主要产油国削减了石油产量。
3月8日华盛顿报道,随着美国春假出行高峰的到来,由于部分联邦政府停摆导致运输安全管理局(TSA)人手短缺,美国各地机场旅客都面临着更长的安检等待时间。据报道,美国新奥尔良、休斯顿、亚特兰大和夏洛特等地均出现了长时间的安检排队。 美国国土安全部(DHS)公共事务副助理部长比斯(Lauren Bis)今天在一份声明中表示:“今天,在一些主要机场,旅客在运输安全管理局安检处排队的时间长达近3个小时,导致航班延误和出行高峰期出现大量延误。” 这些机场包括有休斯顿的霍比机场和乔治-布什国际机场、路易斯安那州的新奥尔良国际机场、佐治亚州亚特兰大的哈茨菲尔德-杰克逊国际机场以及北卡罗来纳州的夏洛特道格拉斯国际机场。 运输安全管理局建议,旅客在航班起飞前3到4个小时抵达机场,以便预留更多安检时间。 据美国航空协会(Airlines for America)的数据显示,各航空公司预计在3月1日至4月30日期间将运送1.71亿名乘客,比去年同期增长约4%,平均每天近300万名乘客。与此同时,航班延误和取消也带来了诸多不便。 休斯顿霍比机场的官员表示,该机场今天的安检通道“容量有限”,并非所有通道都开放。由于人手短缺,他们不得不关闭运输安全管理局的预检通道。 在联邦政府部分停摆的初期,美国运输安全管理局曾表示,预检通道在停摆期间仍将保持运行,但该机构将“根据具体情况进行评估,并据此调整运营”。由于联邦政府停摆,全球入境计划(Global Entry Program)仍然暂停。 自联邦政府部分停摆开始以来,美国运输安全管理局的员工两周前收到了部分工资,如果停摆继续下去,下周他们将收不到工资。 各机场和其他航空合作伙伴表示,正在向美国运输安全管理局 (TSA)…