Biden extends ban on Russian-linked ships from US ports

US President Joe Biden has extended by a year a decree banning Russian-linked ships from entering US ports. This was reported in the White House.

According to a decree signed in April 2022, the ban applies to ships flying the Russian flag, operated by Russia or owned by the Russian government, a Russian company, a citizen or a permanent resident of the country.

The restriction does not apply to ships that carry "source materials, special nuclear materials, and nuclear by-products" unless the US has another reliable supplier. Russia-linked ships are also allowed to enter US ports in case of emergency, such as if crew members need to disembark for medical reasons and "other humanitarian reasons."

Biden said he decided to extend the ban based on "the policy and actions of the Russian government to continue the unjustified, unprovoked and brutal war against Ukraine."

In approving the restriction last year, the American president explained that it would "deprive Russia of the benefits of the international economic system that they have enjoyed so much in the past." According to Reuters sources, in 2021, Russian ships called at US ports about 1.8 thousand times, which amounted to an insignificant share of the total traffic.

A similar measure was taken in the European Union, the ban for Russian ships to enter the ports of European countries was included in the fifth package of sanctions against Russia. This set of measures was also intended to "increase pressure on the Russian government and economy, as well as limit the Kremlin's resources for aggression." An exception is provided only for those ships that are engaged in the transport of humanitarian aid, agricultural products or food.