OLYMPIA, Wash. – Governor Jay Inslee has signed a formal directive he announced last week designed to sever the state’s ties with Russia.
“We stand with them against this outrageous foreign invasion,” said Inslee. “And we, in some sense, are all Ukrainians today.”
His directive calls on all state agencies to identify any potential contracts or investments with Russian state institutions or significant companies by March 18th.
The agencies won’t be able to take action to end contracts without approval from the governor’s office.
Additionally, the Washington State Investment Board is taking actions to eliminate any holdings.
Inslee is also calling on the Biden administration to end Russian oil imports, and says he would be support a move by the state’s refineries to increase production to help offset lost supply.