US targets Russia with fresh sanctions

5 entities, 19 individuals blamed for meddling in US polls

Washington, March 15: Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday levied sanctions against Russia’s top spy agencies and more than a dozen individuals for trying to influence the 2016 US presidential election and conducting separate cyberattacks.

The announcement follows a lengthy delay that had caused anger on Capitol Hill and raised questions about Mr Trump’s willingness to confront Moscow.

The measures target five entities and 19 individuals — including the FSB, Russia’s top spy service; the military intelligence agency, or GRU; and 13 people recently indicted by Robert Mueller, the US special counsel handling a sprawling Russia probe.

Sanctions were also levied against individuals behind a separate Petya cyberattack and an “ongoing” attempt to hack the US energy grid.

“The administration is confronting and countering malign Russian cyber activity, including their attempted interference in US elections, destructive cyber- attacks, and intrusions targeting critical infrastructure,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

“These targeted sanctions are a part of a broader effort to address the ongoing nefarious attacks emanating from Russia.”

Many of the main entities and individuals hit — including the spy agencies and “troll factory” boss Yevgeny Prigozhin — already face assets freezes and travel bans, either put in place under Barack Obama’s administration or for actions linked to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

But the decision heaps pressure on Moscow as it faces separate punitive measures for an alleged attempt to kill a Russianborn British informant with a nerve agent west of London.

Mr Trump has repeatedly denied that Russia tried to sow US political disunity and to tilt the election in his favor.

◗ The measures target ‘ troll factory’ boss Yevgeny Prigozhin and five entities, including the FSB, Russia’s top spy service; the military intelligence agency, or GRU

Ankara, March 15: The Presidents of Turkey, Russia and Iran will meet for a three- way summit on Syria in Istanbul on April 4, the Turkish foreign ministry said on Thursday.

The meeting will be hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and will be the second such tripartite summit following one in November in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi.

The summit will be attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani as the three leaders seek to salvage their efforts to end the conflict.

As part of peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana sponsored by Ankara, Moscow and Tehran, the three countries’ foreign ministers will meet on Friday and will discuss preparations for next month’s summit, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The three countries have worked together despite being on different sides.