On Thursday, the administration of US President Joe Biden imposed sanctions on five Turkish companies and a Turkish citizen on charges of helping Russia evade sanctions and supporting Moscow in its war against Ukraine.

The sanctions include shipping and trading companies accused of helping to repair sanctioned ships linked to the Russian Ministry of Defense, and providing assistance in transporting “dual-use goods.”

These sanctions are part of a broader package of measures targeting Russia with sanctions, and include about 150 entities, including the country's largest automobile factory. They also target the Russian industrial base, the maritime sector, and technology providers, in addition to facilities that produce and repair Russian weapons systems.

The sanctions come at a critical time for US-Turkish relations, as Washington hopes that Ankara will ratify Sweden’s request to join NATO when the Turkish Parliament returns to session early next month.

A senior official in the US Treasury Department, who requested to remain anonymous, said: “Over the past 18 months, we have expressed our concerns to the Turkish government and the private sector, and informed them of the risks involved in dealing with those on whom we have imposed sanctions in connection with Russia’s war.”

He continued, saying: “These new sanctions reflect our continued commitment to targeting individuals and entities that provide material support to sanctioned entities.” There was no immediate comment from the Turkish government.

The US Treasury said, in a statement, that among the Turkish companies that were subjected to sanctions were two companies that Russia relies on to import “highly needed, dual-use goods that enable it to continue its unjustified aggressive war against Ukraine.”

Last April, the United States imposed sanctions on at least four entities based in Turkey, under the pretext that they violate US export controls and provide assistance to the Russian war.

The sanctions at the time included an electronics company and an e-commerce company, believed to be helping to transport dual-use goods.

The United States and European countries imposed wide-ranging sanctions on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, but supply channels from neighboring Turkey on the Black Sea and other trade centers remained open, prompting Washington to issue repeated warnings about the export of chemicals, microchips and other products that... They can be used in Moscow's war effort.