US President Joe Biden signed bills, passed by the Congress earlier, on suspension of normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, as well as on prohibition of energy import from Russia over the situation in Ukraine, the White House press office said Friday, TASS reports.
According to the press office, Biden signed both papers; previously, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki announced his intent to do so.
Earlier in March, Biden already signed an order banning energy import from Russia. The bill, passed by the Congress effectively turns the presidential order into a law.
Biden also previously announced US and NATO allies’ intent to abandon the normal trade relations with Russia. According to the US President, each of these nations intend to take steps to strip Russia of the most favored nation status. In the US, such status can be removed only under approval from the lawmakers.
At the same time, US Defense Department Spokesman John Kirby said that despite the sanctions, Washington wants to avoid further escalation of military tensions with Moscow.
"When supporting Ukraine, the United States takes into account that Russia is a nuclear power," the official said.
Kirby also said that Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin had discussed with Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Nadi the transfer of C-300 anti-aircraft missile systems from Bratislava to Kyiv.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Soviet and Russian missile defense systems could not be transferred to third countries - it will be considered illegal.