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European Union Details Tightened Sanctions Against Russia European Union Details Tightened Sanctions Against Russia
(about 1 hour later)
MILAN — The European Union tightened economic sanctions against Russia on Friday, in response to the country’s role in the Ukraine crisis, imposing additional restrictions on oil companies and extending asset freezes and travel bans to 24 more individuals. MILAN — The European Union tightened economic sanctions against Russia on Friday in response to the country’s role in the Ukraine crisis, imposing additional restrictions on oil companies and extending asset freezes and travel bans to 24 more individuals.
The measures, aimed at Russia’s financial, energy and defense sectors, will be reviewed by diplomats before the end of the month and could be revised swiftly if a cease-fire holds, European Union officials said on Thursday in announcing the broader action.The measures, aimed at Russia’s financial, energy and defense sectors, will be reviewed by diplomats before the end of the month and could be revised swiftly if a cease-fire holds, European Union officials said on Thursday in announcing the broader action.
The new round of sanctions significantly ratchets up restrictions on the Russian financial sector and prohibits European entities from buying debt with a maturity of more than 30 days, from issuing loans or from providing financial services to five banks, three oil companies and three defense firms.The new round of sanctions significantly ratchets up restrictions on the Russian financial sector and prohibits European entities from buying debt with a maturity of more than 30 days, from issuing loans or from providing financial services to five banks, three oil companies and three defense firms.
The banks are the same as those that were subjected to an earlier round of less severe restrictions in July, including Gazprombank and Sberbank. The oil companies are Rosneft, Transneft and Gazprom Neft, and the defense groups were identified as Oboronprom, the United Aircraft Corporation, and Uralvagonzavod.The banks are the same as those that were subjected to an earlier round of less severe restrictions in July, including Gazprombank and Sberbank. The oil companies are Rosneft, Transneft and Gazprom Neft, and the defense groups were identified as Oboronprom, the United Aircraft Corporation, and Uralvagonzavod.
The sanctions detailed Friday included asset freezes and travel bans on Igor V. Lebedev, a lawmaker in the Russian Parliament, for supporting the annexation of Crimea, and on Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a nationalist member of Parliament, for supporting the use of armed forces in Ukraine and for calling for the division of that country.The sanctions detailed Friday included asset freezes and travel bans on Igor V. Lebedev, a lawmaker in the Russian Parliament, for supporting the annexation of Crimea, and on Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a nationalist member of Parliament, for supporting the use of armed forces in Ukraine and for calling for the division of that country.
Also included on the list was Sergei V. Chemezov, described in the European Union’s Official Journal as a “known close associate” of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. Mr. Chemezov leads a conglomerate, Rostec, with a subsidiary that plans to build energy plants in Crimea, “thereby supporting its integration into the Russian Federation,” the Official Journal said.Also included on the list was Sergei V. Chemezov, described in the European Union’s Official Journal as a “known close associate” of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. Mr. Chemezov leads a conglomerate, Rostec, with a subsidiary that plans to build energy plants in Crimea, “thereby supporting its integration into the Russian Federation,” the Official Journal said.
The addition of 24 individuals to the list of those subject to travel bans and asset freezes brings the total to 119 since the European Union began introducing the measures in March.The addition of 24 individuals to the list of those subject to travel bans and asset freezes brings the total to 119 since the European Union began introducing the measures in March.
President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine said from the capital, Kiev, that the new European sanctions were an endorsement of his country, particularly given the economic problems that Europe faces.President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine said from the capital, Kiev, that the new European sanctions were an endorsement of his country, particularly given the economic problems that Europe faces.
Despite strong vocal support from Europe and the United States, and the high profile of the crisis at a NATO summit meeting in Wales last week, Ukraine has not received much tangible economic nor military aid.Despite strong vocal support from Europe and the United States, and the high profile of the crisis at a NATO summit meeting in Wales last week, Ukraine has not received much tangible economic nor military aid.
Ukraine is expected to ratify an association agreement with the European Union on Tuesday. Given that the country’s efforts to extract itself from Moscow’s orbit led to a separatist conflict, Mr. Poroshenko said it would be impolite for the European Union not to move to the next step, known as “accession partnership” and designed to steer toward membership. Ukraine is expected to ratify an association agreement with the European Union on Tuesday. Given that the country’s efforts to extract itself from Moscow’s orbit led to a separatist conflict, Mr. Poroshenko said it would be impolite for the European Union not to move to the next step, known as “accession partnership” and designed as a possible path to membership.
The Ukrainian president is scheduled to meet with President Obama in Washington on Dec. 18, and has said he would be seeking a security alliance with the United States outside the framework of the Atlantic alliance. Although the United States has pledged $70 million in aid, and has dispatched a military advisers to the country, the aid has been slow to arrive. The Ukrainian president is scheduled to meet with President Obama in Washington on Dec. 18, and has said he will seek a security alliance with the United States outside the framework of the Atlantic alliance. Although the United States has pledged $70 million in aid, and has dispatched military advisers to the country, the aid has been slow to arrive.
The United States has yet to take a public stance on such an alliance.The United States has yet to take a public stance on such an alliance.
Mr. Poroshenko said the cease-fire reached on Sept. 5 was growing stronger by the day, avoided criticizing Russia directly and emphasized repeatedly that Kiev sought a peaceful settlement to the crisis. Mr. Poroshenko said the cease-fire reached on Sept. 5 was growing stronger by the day, but avoided criticizing Russia directly and emphasized repeatedly that Kiev sought a peaceful settlement to the crisis.
In the most detailed statement he has made publicly about winning back Crimea, he said that taking back the region by force was impossible. Instead he said Ukraine should seek to achieve that result by convincing Crimeans that they would be better off as part of Ukraine than Russia.In the most detailed statement he has made publicly about winning back Crimea, he said that taking back the region by force was impossible. Instead he said Ukraine should seek to achieve that result by convincing Crimeans that they would be better off as part of Ukraine than Russia.
“I am confident that we will win a liberal, democratic competition for the minds of the Crimean people, " Mr. Poroshenko said. “I am confident that we will win a liberal, democratic competition for the minds of the Crimean people," Mr. Poroshenko said.
Mr. Poroshenko was speaking at the 11th Yalta European Strategy conference, an annual gathering of politicians, economists, diplomats, academics and others from around the world.Mr. Poroshenko was speaking at the 11th Yalta European Strategy conference, an annual gathering of politicians, economists, diplomats, academics and others from around the world.
The forum, organized by the billionaire industrialist Viktor M. Pinchuk, has been held for the past decade at Livadia, the last czar’s seaside palace in Yalta on the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in March. This year it was held in downtown Kiev, with the annexation mentioned repeatedly as a threat to the future of Europe.The forum, organized by the billionaire industrialist Viktor M. Pinchuk, has been held for the past decade at Livadia, the last czar’s seaside palace in Yalta on the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in March. This year it was held in downtown Kiev, with the annexation mentioned repeatedly as a threat to the future of Europe.