re: It doesn't matter whether Trump violated campaign finance laws

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He surely won't say no to this guy if he needs a favor.

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August 2, 2017
President Trump signs CAATSA

President Trump signed into law Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions act (CAATSA), enacting new sanctions on Iran, North Korean, and Russia.

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September 13, 2017
Ban on the use of Kaspersky Labs software

The U.S. administration banned the use of Kaspersky Labs software on U.S. government computers due to Kaspersky ties to Russian intelligence.

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October 27, 2017
Guidance – CAATSA Section 231(d) Defense and Intelligence Sectors of the Government of the Russian Federation

The U.S. Department of State issued public guidance on the implementation of Section 231 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act of 2017 (CAATSA). The guidance specifies 39 entities that State determined are part of, or are operating for or on behalf of, the defense or intelligence sectors of the Government of the Russian Federation (Overview).

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December 18, 2017
Release – National Security Strategy

The new U.S. National Security Strategy identifies Russia and China as adversarial to the United States.

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December 19, 2017
Export controls against two Russian companies

The U.S. Department of Commerce accused Russian companies Novator and Titan-Barrikady of producing a cruise missile prohibited by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). The administration tightened license and exports requirements for U.S. or other firms that might do business with these companies.

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December 20, 2017
Russia-related sanctions – Global Magnitsky Act

The U.S. administration announced new Russia-related sanctions under the Sergei Magnitsky and Global Magnitsky programs. These included financial and travel restrictions on 52 people and entities for alleged human rights violations and corruption.

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December 22, 2017
U.S. Department of State Announcement – Provision of lethal weapons to Ukraine

The U.S. administration approved a plan to provide Ukraine with “enhanced defensive capabilities as part of our effort to help Ukraine build its long-term defense capacity, to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to deter further aggression.”

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January 19, 2018
Release – National Defense Strategy

According to the new U.S. national defense strategy, “it is increasingly clear that China and Russia want to shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model — gaining veto authority over other nations’ economic, diplomatic, and security decisions…[They] are now undermining the international order from within the system by exploiting its benefits while simultaneously undercutting its principles and ‘rules of the road.’”

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January 26, 2018
New Sanctions – Individuals/Entities in Connection with Ukraine Conflict & Russia’s Occupation of Crimea

The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned 21 individuals and 9 entities related to Russia and Ukraine, including three individuals and two entities related to Russia’s transfer of four turbines made by a Russian-German joint venture to Crimea.

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January 29, 2018
Kremlin list released – Russian Senior Political Figures and Oligarchs

The U.S. Department of the Treasury released a list of “the most significant senior foreign political figures and oligarchs in the Russian Federation,” required by Section 241 of CAATSA. The list is a mechanical compilation of 210 names (114 senior political figures close to Putin and 96 oligarchs with a net worth of $1 billion or more).

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February 7, 2018
American bombing – In response to attack on U.S.-held base in Deir Ezzor region

U.S. troops killed hundreds of Syrian forces backed by Russian mercenaries (as well as Russian private military contractors). The American bombing was launched in response to a surprise attack on a US-held base in the oil-rich Deir Ezzor region.

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February 13, 2018
Ban of Latvian bank involved in illicit Russian-related activity

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network proposed a new rule to bar Latvia’s third-biggest bank for its involvement in illicit Russia-related activity from opening or maintaining correspondent accounts in the United States.

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February 15, 2018
White House Statement – Russia launched “NotPetya”

The U.S. administration condemned the Russian military for launching a destructive cyber-attack in June 2017, also known as “NotPetya.” Following a similar statement by the U.K., the U.S. administration stated that the attack was part of the Kremlin’s attempt to destabilize Ukraine. “NotPetya” spread worldwide, destroying computers and inflicting billions of dollars in damage across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

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February 16, 2018
Indictment against Russian nationals and entities

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced indictments against 13 Russian nationals and 3 Russian entities for meddling in the 2016 Presidential election – activities which began in 2014 (Key Takeaways).

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March 4, 2018
White House statement – Condemning Assad regime backed by Russia and Iran

The U.S. administration condemned the military offensive that the Assad regime, backed by Russia and Iran, had been perpetrating against the people of Eastern Ghouta.

“After repeatedly delaying the passage of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2401, which demanded a 30-day cessation of hostilities across Syria, Russia has gone on to ignore its terms and to kill innocent civilians under the false auspices of counterterrorism operations. This is the same combination of lies and indiscriminate force that Russia and the Syrian regime used to isolate and destroy Aleppo in 2016, where thousands of civilians were killed.”

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March 14, 2018
White House statement – Decision to expel Russian diplomats

“The United States stands in solidarity with its closest ally, the United Kingdom. The United States shares the United Kingdom’s assessment that Russia is responsible for the reckless nerve agent attack on a British citizen and his daughter, and we support the United Kingdom’s decision to expel Russian diplomats as a just response.”

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March 15, 2018
Joint statement (France, Germany, U.K.) – Attack in Salisbury

“We, the leaders of France, Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom, abhor the attack that took place against Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, on March 4, 2018 […] The United Kingdom thoroughly briefed its allies that it was highly likely that Russia was responsible for the attack. We share the United Kingdom’s assessment that there is no plausible alternative explanation, and note that Russia´s failure to address the legitimate request by the government of the United Kingdom further underlines Russia’s responsibility.”

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