UPDATE: US slaps full blocking sanctions against Sberbank, Alfa-Bank

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WASHINGTON, Apr 6 (PRIME) -- The U.S. has introduced full blocking sanctions against Russia’s systemically important Sberbank and Alfa-Bank, a high-ranking representative of the U.S. administration said during a conference call on Wednesday.

The full sanctions are now covering two thirds of the Russian banking sector, he added.

The U.S. has also introduced a ban on new investment in Russia.

Full blocking sanctions have also been imposed against Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, and some large state-owned companies, the official said, adding that the list of the companies will be announced on Thursday.

The representative also said that the U.S. sanctions against Russian banks will not cover operations linked to energy imports.

The sanctions can be eased in case of positive development of the Ukrainian crisis, the official added.

The Department of the Treasury said in a statement that companies and individuals must finish financial operations with Sberbank and Alfa-Bank until April 13 and May 6, respectively.

The authority also said that the new sanctions cover 18 individuals, dozens of companies, including those affiliated with Sberbank and Alfa-Bank, and five Russian courts.

Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen told House of Representatives that the U.S. will issue licenses for operations linked to energy imports from Russia until the E.U. reduces its dependence on the imports.

She also said that it is impossible to exclude Russia from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

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