US State Department: delay with introduction of new sanctions against Russia caused by complexity of the process
The US State Department is working on identifying individuals and organizations associated with the Russian defense and intelligence sectors, and the complexity of the process has caused the deadline to be set back, said State Department spokesman Heather Nauert at a press briefing.
According to Nauert, defining such persons and organizations may lead to them being subjected to new sanctions. The State Department "is working to complete the process." " My understanding – and I’m not working on this myself – but from our people who are working on it, they tell me that it’s pretty complicated, that it can take some time," Nauert said.
She noted that, in addition to drawing up the list itself, State Department officials are developing guidelines for US companies that might be affected by such a list, as well as for "important allies and partners in NATO… who need specific guidance so that they do not run afoul of the sanctions act as well." Nauert noted that the State Department is aware of the Senate’s concerns over of the delay.
The law on sanctions against Russia, which signed by US President Donald Tramp on August 2, implied that within two months of its signing, the president was to issue a regulatory act clarifying which Russian individuals and organizations should be considered part of Russia's defense and intelligence sectors. Thus, Russian companies with whom "significant transactions" would be subject to US sanctions would be known.
Earlier, US Senators John McCain and Ben Cardin appealed to the administration of the US president, expressing dissatisfaction with the delay in the implementation of sanctions against Russia. According to the Senators, Trump was supposed to determine the list of Russian companies potentially subject to sanctions by October 1.