Russian officials on Friday downplayed the Biden administration’s decision to impose economic restrictions on Vladimir Potanin, one of the country’s wealthiest men, in response to the Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine.
On Thursday, the U.S. State Department formally sanctioned Mr. Potanin and his family in the government’s latest effort to pressure Moscow over its faltering war in Ukraine. The Russian oligarch, who has close ties to President Vladimir Putin, owns Interros, a conglomerate with a controlling interest in several industries including mining, food production, nuclear fuel, and banking.
In addition to his businesses, the U.