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| U.S. imposes new sanctions on Russia | U.S. imposes new sanctions on Russia |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Obama administration on Monday imposed new asset freezes and visa bans on seven Russian government officials and sanctions on 17 companies linked to President Vladimir Putin’s “inner circle,” saying that the measures were a response to Russia’s failure to cease provocative acts in Ukraine. | The Obama administration on Monday imposed new asset freezes and visa bans on seven Russian government officials and sanctions on 17 companies linked to President Vladimir Putin’s “inner circle,” saying that the measures were a response to Russia’s failure to cease provocative acts in Ukraine. |
| The sanctions, which President Obama previewed during a visit to the Philippines, include additional restrictions on 13 of the Russian companies, imposing licensing requirements “with a presumption of denial” for the export or transfer of any U.S.-made items to those enterprises. | The sanctions, which President Obama previewed during a visit to the Philippines, include additional restrictions on 13 of the Russian companies, imposing licensing requirements “with a presumption of denial” for the export or transfer of any U.S.-made items to those enterprises. |
| The new sanctions were imposed under executive orders Obama signed last month following Russia’s incursion into the Ukrainian region of Crimea. In a statement, the White House noted that a separate order authorizes the president to sanction “key sectors of the Russian economy” and said that it would move to do so “if there is further Russian military intervention in Ukraine.” | The new sanctions were imposed under executive orders Obama signed last month following Russia’s incursion into the Ukrainian region of Crimea. In a statement, the White House noted that a separate order authorizes the president to sanction “key sectors of the Russian economy” and said that it would move to do so “if there is further Russian military intervention in Ukraine.” |
| “The international community has been unified in its position that Russia must cease its illegal intervention and provocative actions in Ukraine,” the statement said. “The United States, working closely with its partners, remains prepared to impose still greater costs on Russia if the Russian leadership continues these provocations instead of de-escalating the situation.” | “The international community has been unified in its position that Russia must cease its illegal intervention and provocative actions in Ukraine,” the statement said. “The United States, working closely with its partners, remains prepared to impose still greater costs on Russia if the Russian leadership continues these provocations instead of de-escalating the situation.” |
| Among those identified for sanctions on Monday was Igor Sechin, president of Rosneft, Russia’s leading state-owned petroleum company, as well as members of Putin’s government including Dmitry Kozak, a deputy prime minister. | Among those identified for sanctions on Monday was Igor Sechin, president of Rosneft, Russia’s leading state-owned petroleum company, as well as members of Putin’s government including Dmitry Kozak, a deputy prime minister. |
| Russian officials immediately condemned the new sanctions, with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov describing them as “disgusting.” | Russian officials immediately condemned the new sanctions, with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov describing them as “disgusting.” |
| The U.S. announcement “demonstrates the utter absence of understanding about what is going on in Ukraine,” Ryabkov told the Interfax news agency. “It is a distorted mirror of foreign policy, not a responsible approach to the situation.” | The U.S. announcement “demonstrates the utter absence of understanding about what is going on in Ukraine,” Ryabkov told the Interfax news agency. “It is a distorted mirror of foreign policy, not a responsible approach to the situation.” |
| Ryabkov said that the Russian government would take reciprocal measures. “We have never been concealing that we have capabilities for such a response at our disposal, as well as a set of measures, which is rather large, that will be used,” he said, without elaborating. | Ryabkov said that the Russian government would take reciprocal measures. “We have never been concealing that we have capabilities for such a response at our disposal, as well as a set of measures, which is rather large, that will be used,” he said, without elaborating. |
| The European Union is expected Tuesday to expand its own list of Russians and pro-Russian Ukrainians under E.U. sanctions to at least 15 individuals. The Europeans, who have been reluctant to impose sanctions that might damage their own economies, will not sanction Russian companies. | |
| Previous rounds of sanctions have already taken a toll on the Russian economy, and Standard & Poor’s last week downgraded the country’s debt to the brink of junk status, citing capital flight. On Monday, however, the ruble immediately rose half a percentage point against the dollar after slumping earlier in the day in the expectation that the latest U.S. measures would be more severe. | Previous rounds of sanctions have already taken a toll on the Russian economy, and Standard & Poor’s last week downgraded the country’s debt to the brink of junk status, citing capital flight. On Monday, however, the ruble immediately rose half a percentage point against the dollar after slumping earlier in the day in the expectation that the latest U.S. measures would be more severe. |
| Officials said the Obama administration was ready to move on new sanctions Friday, but postponed them while the Europeans met over the weekend. E.U. foreign ministers, gathered in Brussels Monday but officals said an announcement would come until Tuesday. | |
| Under the new U.S. measures, effective immediately, the Treasury Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls will deny pending applications for export or re-export of certain high-technology defense articles or services to Russia or to occupied Crimea that contribute to Russia’s military capabilities. | Under the new U.S. measures, effective immediately, the Treasury Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls will deny pending applications for export or re-export of certain high-technology defense articles or services to Russia or to occupied Crimea that contribute to Russia’s military capabilities. |
| In addition, the department is taking actions to revoke any existing export licenses that meet these conditions. All other pending applications and existing licenses will receive a case-by-case evaluation to determine their contribution to Russia’s military capabilities. | In addition, the department is taking actions to revoke any existing export licenses that meet these conditions. All other pending applications and existing licenses will receive a case-by-case evaluation to determine their contribution to Russia’s military capabilities. |
| Birnbaum reported from Moscow. | Birnbaum reported from Moscow. |