On Friday, the United States levied sweeping Russia-related sanctions on hundreds of people and firms in response to Russia’s declaration that it had annexed a swath of Ukraine. The US Treasury Department declared it levied sanctions on 14 people in Russia’s military-industrial complex, family members of top officials, two leaders of the country’s central bank, and 278 members of Russia’s legislature for facilitating Russia’s sham referenda and attempt to annex sovereign Ukrainian territory.

Also, the Treasury issued a warning of elevated sanctions risk to those outside Russia should they provide economic or political support to Moscow. The US acted after Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday announced the biggest annexation in Europe since World War Two, claiming Russian rule over 15 per cent of Ukraine.

Russia proclaimed the annexations after holding what it called referendums in occupied areas of Ukraine. Western governments and Ukraine said the votes breached international law and were coercive and non-representative.

Among those targeted with sanctions by the US on Friday were Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak and 278 members of Russia’s legislature. The US State Department also levied visa restrictions on about 900 people, including members of the military of Russia and Belarus and ‘Russia’s proxies for violating Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence.’ In a related move, the US Commerce Department added 57 entities to its US export blacklist.