Today President Barack Obama announced that the
U.S. was putting
sanctions on additional Russian officials and imposing
sanctions on a Russian bank. Obama also said that he had signed an
executive order allowing for sanctions to target “key sectors of
the Russian economy.” The latest set of sanctions also target
wealthy supporters of Russian President Vladimir
Putin.
Obama also urged Congress to pass assistance legislation for
Ukraine.
The news comes a few days after the
U.S. and the European Union imposed travel bans and asset
freezes on selected Russian and Ukrainian officials in the wake of
Sunday’s referendum in Crimea in which voters backed the Black Sea
peninsula joining Russia.
Obama is going to travel to Europe next week to meet with
European and Asian allies. German Chancellor
Angela Merkel has said that the E.U. will impose further
sanctions on Russia in response to its annexation of Crimea and
will suspend G8 meetings.
Although Obama has ruled out a
military operation in Ukraine in response to the ongoing crisis
there the Pentagon announced earlier this month that it would
increase its participation in NATO air patrols in the Baltics. Vice
President
Joe Biden recently said that the U.S. may consider carrying out
military exercises in the Baltic region.
According to the Associated
Press, Russia has imposed entry bans on American lawmakers and
officials in response to sanctions.
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