US senators want sanctions against Russian banks

US senators Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut), Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire), John Cornyn (Texas) and Kelly Ayotte (New Hampshire) signed a letter to US Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew to pass sanctions against Russian banks VTB, VEB and Gazprombank for cooperating with Syria and violating US, EU and UN sanctions, Trend reports.

VEB helps Syria transfer payments for S-300 systems, VTB keeps President Assad’s accounts and Gazprombank helps make payments for oil, the senators say.

Blumenthal proposed freezing assets of Russian banks and ban their activities in the US. He wants staff of the banks to be banned from visiting the US too.