The U.S. warned Turkish businesses from working with Russian companies and individuals subject to blocking sanctions, Interfax reported, citing The Wall Street Journal.

Turkish companies cooperating with Russian SDN List members risk getting on the sanctions list themselves. The letter from U.S. Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Turkey, seen by the WSJ, said. A similar content document was sent to the largest Turkish business association TUSIAD.

In particular, Adeyemo warns that banks that maintain correspondent relationships with Russian credit institutions from the SDN List may fall under the restriction.

The written warning from U.S. authorities is a new level of pressure on Turkey, which has become a haven for Russian capital since the harsh sanctions were imposed.

Last Friday, the U.S. Treasury Department released a report on Adeyemo's conversation with his Turkish counterpart, which did not simply state the fact that the sanctions agenda was being discussed, but contained direct criticism of Ankara, the publication notes. Adeyemo expressed concern that Russian entities and individuals are trying to use Turkey to circumvent sanctions imposed by the U.S. and 30 other countries, the Treasury Department noted.

According to the WSJ, U.S. authorities are now making efforts to generally improve efficiency and close loopholes in the sanctions regime against Russia, as well as to impose restrictions on those who facilitate evasion.

In particular, we are talking about potential restrictions on foreign banks and cryptocurrency platforms that help Russia maintain access to international currencies, bank accounts and corporate assets of SDN List members, the newspaper sources said. The U.S. also intends to persuade countries such as China and India, which have not joined the Western sanctions campaign, to reduce the flow of imports from Russia.