Russia imposed financial sanctions Thursday against 322 Ukrainians and 68 companies linked to high-profile politicians or members of the country’s business elite.
The two countries have had an exceptionally tense relationship ever since pro-Russian separatists backed by Moscow began an armed uprising in the eastern Ukrainian region of the Donbas in 2014. Ukraine has also sanctioned some Russian individuals in connection with Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula that same year. Moscow later refused to compensate the Ukrainian owners of companies based in Crimea.
Nevertheless, both countries have paid lip service to an ongoing peace process and claim to want to normalize relations. But some experts say that Russia’s decision to impose sanctions before the Ukrainian elections in March demonstrate the Moscow isn’t serious about making peace with its neighbor.
“Russia and Ukraine are continuing their tit-for-tat military and economic warfare. Russians are selecting high-profile Ukrainians from the government and business to impose as much hurt as possible, including some people who are not anti-Russian, such as the oligarch Victor Pinchuk. These are very reasonable people who would love to see a settlement with Russia,” Ariel Cohen, a senior fellow at the Washington D.C.-based Atlantic Council, told Newsweek.
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