Diplomatic talks between Russia, US should continue – Obama
20 March 2014, 19:32 -- The United States will impose new sanctions against Russia in addition to the ones imposed earlier this week due to Moscow's political course towards Ukraine, US President Barack Obama said on Thursday. At the same time, he stressed that diplomatic talks between Russia and the United States should go on. The American leader specified that the new measures are imposed against Russian high-ranking officials and other people who did not belong to authorities in Moscow, but who, as Washington believes, support actions of the Russian government against Ukraine. Obama added that one Russian bank was also included in the list. However, the president did not disclose the name of the bank.
Spokesperson of the US administration later specified during a telephone briefing for journalists that the new list included 20 Russian officials.
Obama said he has signed on Thursday a new executive order allowing the US administration to apply sanctions against key sectors of Russian economy. However, the president acknowledged that applying such measures might have negative impact on the whole global economy.
On Monday, Obama warned that the US would introduce additional sanctions against Russia, if it continues interfering with Ukraine's affairs.
March 17, USA published a black list of Russian and Ukrainian officials. The list includes presidential aide Vladislav Surkov, presidential adviser Sergei Glazyev, Head of State Duma Committee for CIS Affairs Leonid Slutsky, Head of Federation Council's Committee for constitutional legislation Andrei Klishas, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, Chair of the Duma committee for family, women and children affairs Yelena Mizulina, Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov, Crimean State Council Speaker Vladimir Konstantinov, leader of the Ukrainian Choice public movement Viktor Medvedchuk and Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych.
Their assets in the US will be frozen, and Americans will be banned from getting into business contacts with the officials on the list.
Apart from that, a new executive order of the US president has been adopted. This order forms the basis of sanctions against the aforementioned persons. In addition, the document allows introducing punitive measures against persons and organizations serving the interests of Russia's military industry, as well as providing material support to people included in the black list.
Obama announces sanctions on more Russian officials, banks
President Barack Obama on Thursday imposed sanctions on more Russian officials, other individuals and a bank, and threatened to directly target the Russian economy over Rissia's reunion with Crimea.
'Russia must know that further escalation will only isolate it further from the international community,' Obama said at the White House.
Voice of Russia, AFP
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