Sanctions-hit Russian firms ask government for $1.6bn in liquidity – Interfax

Russian companies hit by US sanctions, including aluminium giant Rusal, have asked for $1.6-billion in liquidity support from the government, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying on Friday. The US on April 6 imposed sanctions against several Russian entities and individuals, including Rusal and its major shareholder Oleg Deripaska, to punish Moscow for its suspected meddling in the 2016 US election and other alleged "malign activity."