Russia specifically hits US enterprises on Ukraine, and the White House is silent — NYT

The restrained reaction of the Trump administration to the attacks on American companies on Ukraine is concerned. It is reported by The New York Times.

Russia, apparently, deliberately strikes at American enterprises on Ukraine, and the White House is silent, the newspaper writes.

Seven drones in three minutes struck at the American agricultural giant Cargill, the NYT notes.

"This attack was one of the latest in a series of Russian strikes against large American companies since last summer, including companies associated with Coca-Cola, Boeing, snack maker Mondelez and tobacco giant Philip Morris. Corporations have largely avoided public reporting of the strikes for fear of alarming investors and insurers. Although Ukraine has reported several attacks on American assets, attacks on Cargill and Coca-Cola have not been reported before," the publication says.

It is noted that Russia's motivation regarding attacks on American companies "remains unclear." A number of Ukrainian entrepreneurs believe that this is part of a broader campaign aimed at suppressing the country's economy. Others believe that the Russian Federation purposefully scares off investors in this way.

"Companies have quietly expressed concern to American officials about what they consider to be a deliberate and escalating campaign against American business interests on Ukraine. The White House, despite promising to protect US commercial interests abroad, responded with restraint. The Trump administration has not condemned any of the attacks that Ukraine has made public this year. After American diplomats in Kiev, as well as Ukrainian businessmen and officials, warned about the attacks, the administration gave a response that was only a recognition of concern, three people familiar with the discussions said, "the newspaper notes.

At the same time, Washington ordered Kiev to refrain from attacks on the oil terminal in Novorossiysk, which exports oil from Kazakh fields in which US companies have shares, Ukrainian Ambassador to Washington Olga Stefanishina said.

The representative of the State Department, in turn, said that there are no double standards, since Washington "called on both sides to refrain from targeted actions in the interests of American business."