Biden bans vodka and diamond imports from Russia.

ANSA with 247 - US President Joe Biden announced on Friday (11) a new package of sanctions against the Russian economy, including a ban on imports of vodka, seafood - such as caviar - and diamonds.

In a statement at the White House, the American president stated that the measure targets "symbolic sectors of the Russian economy."

According to Biden, the US and its allies will remove Russia's status, which guarantees equal treatment among trading partners, opening the door to imposing tariffs on products from the Eurasian country, an initiative taken in coordination with the G7 and the European Union.

"The United States and its partners remain in sync to increase economic pressure on Putin and further isolate Russia on the global stage," the Democrat said. "The free world has united against Putin," he added.

In a speech at a Democratic Party conference in Pennsylvania, Biden stated that the United States would not wage war with Russia in Ukraine, but would defend the territory of NATO member countries. "If they touch NATO countries, we will respond," Biden said. 

On March 8, Biden had already banned the import of oil, natural gas, and coal from Russia, a measure followed by the United Kingdom, but not by the European Union, which is still heavily dependent on Moscow for energy.

"We are not going to stop the energy imports we have in Europe. What we will do is get out of this dependence," stressed German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday, after a meeting between EU leaders in Versailles, France.

According to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the goal is to become independent of Russian energy commodities by 2027, and the plan to achieve this goal should be released in mid-May.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on his Twitter profile that he had a "substantial conversation" with Biden. "We agreed to take further steps to support Ukrainian defenses and increase sanctions against Russia," the president stressed.

The new sanctions imposed by the US also prevent the export of luxury goods to Russia and Belarus, a measure that primarily targets oligarchs close to Vladimir Putin's regime.

"While we continue to pursue their superyachts and vacation homes, we will make it more difficult for them to buy high-end products made in our country," Biden stated. The measure was also supported by the EU.

Following the announcement by the American president, the leaders of the G7, a group that includes Germany, Canada, the USA, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, released a statement in which they affirmed that they were "determined to isolate" Russia from the international financial system.

"We are working collectively to prevent Russia from obtaining financing from major multilateral institutions, including the IMF, the World Bank, and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development," the statement said.

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