Photo: Global Look Press
The United States wants to achieve a strategic defeat of Russia, and not “hang one or another negative label on it,” said Jim O’Brien, head of the office for the coordination of sanctions, commenting on Washington’s unwillingness to recognize the Russian Federation as a country sponsoring terrorism.
According to the American official, “labels distract from the essence.” O’Brien said that Russia must suffer a “final strategic defeat”, which will force it to complete a military special operation on the territory of Ukraine.
Earlier, US President Joe Biden said that he did not consider it necessary to include Russia in the American list of countries that sponsor terrorism. White House Press Secretary Jacqueline Jean-Pierre said that the decision not to include Russia in the list of countries sponsoring terrorism is final.
“State sponsors of terrorism” is a list of States that, according to the official position of the US State Department, have repeatedly supported acts of international terrorism. Inclusion in the list entails tough economic and political sanctions from the United States. State Departmentis required to maintain the list in accordance with section 1754(c) of the State Defense Act for Fiscal year 2019, section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act and section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act. As of 2021 , the list includes Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria. Previously on the list were Iraq, Libya, South Yemen and Sudan.