Obama administration joins European Union in blacklisting 15 Russian entities

The Obama administration has slapped sanctions on 15 Russian individuals and businesses because of their involvement in projects in Ukraine and Crimea.

The Treasury Department designated seven individuals and eight corporate entities involved in a range of projects, including the construction of a bridge connecting Russia to the Crimean peninsula. It also targeted businesspeople who are associates of President Vladimir V. Putin or are involved in activities that aid in Russia’s destabilization of Ukraine.

“Today’s action is in response to Russia’s unlawful occupation of Crimea and continued aggression in Ukraine,” John E. Smith, the acting director of the Treasury’s office of foreign assets control, said in a statement.

“These targeted sanctions,” he added, “aim to maintain pressure on Russia by sustaining the costs of its occupation of Crimea and disrupting the activities of those who support the violence and instability in Ukraine.”

These measures are "part of a regular updating of the sanctions, once every six months" according to administration officials, in conjunction with the extension of sanctions issued by the European Union on Monday. President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel worked closely together to "keep a united front against Russia" on this one, working against a number of countries who wanted the EU sanctions to last. The precise role of Putin-loving Donald Trump's Electoral College victory is unclear—but he is expected to cozy up to Russia in any number of ways, especially since they did him such a solid by helping him secure that electoral vote win. The end of these sanctions in six months’ time is almost assured.

We don't know if Trump is personally damaged by any of these sanctions, because we haven't seen his tax returns to know precisely which pies he has fingers in.