The Trump administration has slapped sanctions on Russian individuals and entities, accusing them of interfering in the 2016 presidential election and carrying out cyber-attacks. <br />Ro Aram has the details. <br /> The U.S. Treasury Department announced Thursday that the sanctions target 19 individuals and five entities, marking the strongest action against Moscow since Trump took office. <br />The White House has long been accused of being too soft on the Kremlin and failing to use its congressionally mandated authority to punish Russia.<br />Of the 19 Russians, 13 of them were indicted last month by special counsel Robert Mueller, whose Russia investigation the president has repeatedly sought to discredit.<br />Trump has acknowledged that Moscow may have interfered in the election, but denies that there was any collusion with his campaign.<br />The Treasury Department also accused Russia of cyber-attacks stretching back two years that targeted the U.S. power grid including nuclear facilities.<br />Those listed will be subject to an asset freeze in the United States.<br />They will also be banned from accessing the U.S. financial system, though Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin did not say when it will be imposed. <br /> Congressional critics, however, said more needs to be done and raised issue with the fact that some Russian officials and oligarchs close to President Putin were not targeted. <br />But, Mnuchin said there would be additional sanctions to hold them accountable for what he called their "destabilizing activities." <br />Moscow says it has already begun drawing up retaliatory measures.<br /> On the same day, the U.S. also joined Britain, Germany and France in demanding that Russia explain how a Soviet-era nerve agent was used to poison a former Russian double agent in southern England.<br />The UK's allies have joined forces to point the finger at Moscow for the attack. <br />The Kremlin denies involvement and says it is being targeted in a political witch hunt ahead of its presidential election. <br /> Russia is increasingly being cornered by western nations and its relationship with the EU is also starting to deteriorate. <br />Ro Aram, Arirang News. <br />
