Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced another round of sanctions against Russia.
They target 10 people who Trudeau says are “complicit in this unjustified invasion” of Ukraine.
“This includes former and current senior government officials, oligarchs, and supporters of Russian leadership,” Trudeau said Monday.
“The names of these individuals come from a list compiled by jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny.”
According to the prime minister, the sanctions put increased pressure on Russian leadership, including President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said he welcomes the new sanctions announced by Trudeau on Monday.
“We need to continue to apply as much pressure as possible on Putin where it counts the most, and that’s his wealth,” said Singh.
“That’s why targetting his closely allied and associated oligarchs, seizing and freezing their accounts, that’s a meaningful way for us to apply pressure on Putin to stop this war.”
The new sanctions are in addition to previously announced penalties, including a 35 per cent tariff on goods from Russia and Belarus.
Meantime, Russian President Vladimir Putin decreed that that his government, Russian companies and citizens will be paying off international debt in rubles.
As of March 8, $1 CDN = $107.5 Rubles.
A list of “unfriendly countries” has also been complied and it’s made up of countries and territories who are taking “unfriendly actions” against the Kremlin which includes Canada, United States, European Union members, Britain, Japan, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and of course Ukraine.
Going forward, Putin’s government would have to approve more countries to be added to the list.
Since the start of this conflict on February 24, there have been roughly 2 million people leaving Ukraine to find refuge and safety in other countries.
(With files from Katie Nicholls)
