Russian envoy to US claims embassy being blockaded amidst face-off over Ukraine war

Diplomatic tensions between United States and Russia intensified ever since onset of Ukraine war with US responding to unprovoked military offensive by imposing stringent embargoes on Kremlin and deploying military aid to ex-Soviet state. Now, Russian Ambassor of United States, Anatoly Antonov has claimed that work of Russian Embassy in Washington is being blocked by US authorities. As per reports of Sputnik, Antonov stated that  embassy is under siege from US federal agencies, with Bank of America closing accounts of two of ir general consulates in Houston and New York.

Russian Ambassor also claimed that threats were me to m over phone and through mail. For Kremlin's activities in Ukraine, United States, alongside G7 nations and European Union (EU), has placed severe financial sanctions on Russia. Long before Russian President Vlimir Putin launched his "special military operation" against Ukraine on February 24, Russia and United States were at loggerhes over  functioning of ir respective diplomatic offices.

US not in talks with Russia on removing Western sanctions

On Thursday, US Deputy National Security visor Daleep Singh stated that Washington is not in talks with Russia over possibility of pulling Western sanctions against Moscow. Singh remarked during a virtual panel discussion with Bretton Woods Committee that y have channels of communication that are still open, however, y are not at point where y are talking about sanctions relaxation, according to Sputnik. He also noted that  Western sanctions will have a significant impact on Russia's supply lines and productive capacity, especially military-industrial complex.

US State Department spokesperson Ned Price, meanwhile, said that US State Department is considering identifying Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. He stated that y are looking at facts closely and that y are looking into law right now. He furr said that y will use whatever authority available to m under law if it is effective and appropriate.

Russia places sanctions on several Americans

In meantime, Russia has placed sanctions on Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, US Vice President Kamala Harris, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, and 26 or Americans, according to local media reports. Russian Foreign Ministry stated that business leers, lawmakers, scientists and journalists will also be denied entry to Russian Federation on an indefinite basis.

(Inputs from ANI)