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ST. PAUL — Gov. Tim Walz on Friday, March 4, signed an executive order condemning Russia's attacks on Ukraine and terminating state contracts with Russian entities.
The state didn't immediately identify how many contracts would be affected by the order. And the directive said that, moving forward, Minnesota should not enter into new contracts with Russia. The governor also urged other private companies to take similar measures.
Walz's action comes after President Joe Biden issued sanctions blocking Russian entities from accessing global banking systems, blocking some technology exports to Russia and prohibiting companies owned by the Russian state from raising money in U.S. markets. Individual states have also cut their purchasing from Russian suppliers.
"Minnesota stands firmly with Ukraine and strongly condemns the Russian government’s actions," Walz wrote in the order. "Our state agencies are significant purchasers of goods and services, and we seek to ensure that their actions do not aid the Russian government’s aggression against Ukraine."
Walz asked that Minnesota who were financially able to donate to causes helping Ukrainian humanitarian efforts. And he said Minnesotans should continue to support their friends and neighbors with ties to Ukraine, as well as Russian Minnesotans who were "horrified and alarmed" by the aggression toward Ukraine.
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Follow Dana Ferguson on Twitter @bydanaferguson , call 651-290-0707 or email dferguson@forumcomm.com.
