"Starting this week, in coordination with our allies and partners, we'll be exerting additional pressure on the people closest to him, the companies they control, the defence industry. All of this," deputy national security adviser Tony Blinken said on CNN's State of the Union.
In a separate interview with CBS's "Face the Nation," Blinken said high technology exports to the Russian defence industry would be affected.
President Barack Obama said earlier on Sunday the sanctions being drawn up by G7 countries were a punishment for Moscow's "provocation" in eastern Ukraine.
"It is important for us to take further steps sending a message to Russia that these kinds of destabilising activities taking place in Ukraine have to stop," Obama said in Kuala Lumpur.
Blinken, however, made clear that Washington would not meet Ukraine's demands for weapons despite menacing Russian military exercises on its borders.
"Here is the bottom line. We could send weapons to Ukraine. It wouldn't make a difference in terms of their ability to stand up to the Russians," he said.
Instead, he said Washington would focus economic aid to Kiev, with an estimated $37 billion being rounded up by Washington, the IMF, World Bank and others........[channelnewsasia.com]
27/4/14
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The US has imposed sanctions on seven Russian individuals and 17 companies linked to President Vladimir Putin's "inner circle"....
ReplyDeleteThe White House said the move was a response to "Russia's continued illegal intervention in Ukraine".
Those targeted include Igor Sechin, head of oil giant Rosneft, and influential MP Alexei Pushkov.
The move by the US comes as the mayor of Kharkiv, a city in eastern Ukraine, was shot and critically wounded.
Hennadiy Kernes was recovering after a two-hour operation to repair damage to the chest and abdomen, but his life remained in danger, his office said.
Monday also saw pro-Russian separatists seize a local government building in Kostyantynivka, a town to the south.
Western nations accuse Moscow of supporting separatist gunmen who are occupying official buildings in cities across eastern Ukraine.
The separatists continue to hold seven Western military observers who were seized last week in the region.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-27193628
28/4/14
Japan imposes new sanctions on Russia...
ReplyDeleteJapanese government has imposed additional sanctions on Russia Tuesday over current situation around Ukraine. The sanctions envisage temporary termination of issuing entry visas for 23 officials of Russian official agencies and other people. Their list will be made public later.
These sanctions are introduced to fulfill joint decisions which the leaders of seven leading highly industrialized countries had taken.
Japan has already introduced the first package of sanctions against Russia on March 18. These sanctions were related with Russia’s position on the Republic of Crimea. Then sanctions envisaged suspension of consultations over a softer visa regime and freezing of the start of talks on possible conclusion of three treaties on investment co-operation, co-operation in space exploration and prevention of dangerous military activity.
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/729887
29/4/14