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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US widens sanctions against Russia | US widens sanctions against Russia |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US has increased sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, targeting major banks, defence and energy firms. | The US has increased sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, targeting major banks, defence and energy firms. |
| Among those on the list are Gazprombank and Rosneft as well as senior officials in Russia and the self-declared rebel entities in eastern Ukraine. | Among those on the list are Gazprombank and Rosneft as well as senior officials in Russia and the self-declared rebel entities in eastern Ukraine. |
| The US has steadily escalated its sanctions against Russia over what it says is Moscow's backing of the rebels - a claim denied by the Kremlin. | The US has steadily escalated its sanctions against Russia over what it says is Moscow's backing of the rebels - a claim denied by the Kremlin. |
| The EU also agreed to tighten its own sanctions against Russia. | |
| The leaders of the 28-member bloc are currently holding talks in Brussels. | |
| Heavy fighting | |
| The new round of US sanctions announced by the US treasury department significantly expands previous penalties by Washington, which were limited to individuals in Russia and Ukraine and a number of companies. | |
| This time they include the giant oil firm Rosneft and two major banks - Gazprombank and Vnesheconombank. | |
| The weapons manufacturer Kalashnikov Concern is also on the list. | |
| Two self-proclaimed rebel entities in eastern Ukraine - the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic - are also targeted. | |
| The penalties stop short of a complete disengagement with sectors of the Russian economy - a step that US officials said was being held in reserve in case Moscow launches a military invasion of Ukraine. | |
| Russia denounced the US move. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Russia would take measures "that will be felt quite painfully in Washington", Interfax news agency reports. | |
| In Brussels, the EU leaders agreed to beef up their own sanctions against Russia. | |
| They said the list "of entities and persons" affected would be announced by the end of July. | |
| The EU said it would suspend new investments in Russia by the EU's European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). | |
| In Ukraine itself, heavy fighting continued in the east. | |
| Ukrainian officials said 11 soldiers died in the space of 24 hours. The number of casualties among pro-Russian separatists was not immediately known. | |
| Russia annexed the southern Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March, and has been accused of arming the rebels and even sending regular Russian troops to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions - a claim denied by the Kremlin. | |
| More than 1,000 civilians and combatants have been killed since mid-April, when Ukrainian security forces moved to regain control of the eastern regions, while tens of thousands of people have left. |