Online Desk:
The United States and its G7 allies rolled out new sanctions against Russia`s war machine Friday, targeting Moscow`s lucrative diamond trade and more entities linked to the invasion of Ukraine, reports AFP.
Leaders from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies are meeting in Hiroshima, Japan, with Russia`s $4-5 billion annual trade in diamonds in the crosshairs.
Vladimir Putin`s invasion of Ukraine 15 months ago has prompted waves of sanctions that have helped plunge his country into recession and drained the Kremlin`s war chest.
The G7 is now looking to tighten the screws further, strengthening existing sanctions, closing loopholes and subjecting more Russian firms and their international partners to punitive restrictions.
Washington got the ball rolling on more sanctions early Friday, with a senior US administration official saying 70 more entities from Russia and other countries would be placed on a US blacklist.
Apart from Ukraine, China will dominate the three days of meetings.
