U.S. escalates sanctions with freeze on Russian central bank assets

The U.S. escalated sanctions with a freeze on Russian central bank assets as delegations from Kyiv and Moscow met in Belarus.

The moves by the Treasury Department are meant to curb Russia’s ability to use its war chest of international reserves to blunt the impact of sanctions that the United States and European allies have enacted.

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Summary

• Negotiators for Kyiv and Moscow are holding talks in Belarus but expectations are not high
• Before the meeting, President Zelensky urged Russian troops to lay down their weapons and called for immediate EU membership
• On the fifth day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, people in Kyiv are emerging from their homes after a weekend-long curfew
• Russia doubles its interest rate to 20% as its currency plunges and experts warn of a possible run on banks
• The UK’s defence secretary says Russia could indiscriminately bomb cities as frustration with the campaign grows
• The north-eastern city of Chernihiv faced heavy shelling overnight, but remains in Ukrainian hands
• Reports suggest Belarus – a close Russian ally to Ukraine’s north – is going to deploy its own soldiers to fight

• Live Updates: U.S. Sharply Escalates Sanctions Against Russia as Fighting Continues
  The Treasury Department announced a freeze on Russian Central Bank assets. Delegations from Kyiv and Moscow were meeting for talks in Belarus, even as Ukraine said dozens were killed in a Russian rocket attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city.