U.S. President Barack Obama has announced that the U.S. is once again
moving to impose fresh sanctions on Russia as a consequence for its
continued support of separatists in eastern Ukraine.
The new sanctions, which target the defense, energy and financial
sectors of the Russian economy.
"The major sanctions we're announcing today will continue to ratchet
up the pressure on Russia," said Obama at the White House.
"Today Russia is once again isolating itself from the international
community, setting back decades of genuine progress. And it doesn't
have to come to this. It didn't have to come to this. It does not have
to be this way. This is a choice that Russia, and President [Vladimir]
Putin in particular has made."
He urged Russia to choose a different path, one of "de-escalation, the
choice of joining the world in a diplomatic solution to this
situation, a choice in which Russia recognizes that it can be a good
neighbor and trading partner with Ukraine."
In a press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin
Tuesday, Secretary of State John Kerry said Russia's actions "have not
shown a shred of evidence that they really have a legitimate desire to
end the violence and end the bloodshed," as they say they do.
Russia however denies giving any form of support to the separatists in
eastern Ukraine and said that the country remained undeterred by the
sanctions.
"I assure you, we will overcome any difficulties that may arise in
certain areas of the economy, and maybe we will become more
independent and more confident in our own strength," Reuters quoted
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as saying in Moscow.
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