US Threatens Technology Embargo If Russia Tries To Attack Ukraine

Deputy Secretary of the United States of America, Wally Adeyemo. (photo: twitter @wallyadeyemo)

JAKARTA - If the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, takes a reckless action by attacking his neighbor, Ukraine, the United States will not remain silent.

Uncle Sam's country is ready to respond by withholding technology and resources if Russian troops invade Ukraine. This was emphasized by the US Deputy Treasury Secretary, Wally Adeyemo, on Wednesday, February 23.

Such measures were not announced last Tuesday as part of a round of sanctions unveiled by US President Joe Biden to punish Putin. This was done because Russia unilaterally recognized two breakaway Ukrainian territories as independent territories and deployed Russian troops to the region under the pretext of "keeping the peace."

"President Putin clearly has the ability to do more than he has done so far," Adeyemo said in an interview with CNBC.

In response, the Biden administration could deprive Russia of vast quantities of US and foreign-made goods, low and high-tech, from commercial electronics and computers to semiconductors and aircraft parts. The US will take this step firmly, a White House source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

“The main thing that President Putin needs to consider is whether he wants to make sure that the Russian economy can grow, that he has the resources he needs to be able to project power in the future. If he chooses to attack, what do we do?” Adeyemo said.

"We will cut them off from Western technology that is essential to advancing their military, cutting them off from Western financial resources that will be critical to feeding its economy and also to enriching itself," Adeyemo said.

This threat step is considered by the US as the safest and cheapest step than sending troops to help Ukraine fight against Russia.