The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
July 17, 2014

U.S. Widens Russia Sanctions over Ukraine 
------------------------------------------


 
The Obama administration has expanded U.S. sanctions on Russia in the
latest round of a standoff over Ukraine. Speaking at the White House,
President Obama said Russia has failed to drop military support for
pro-Russian separatists.

President Obama: "Given its continued provocations in Ukraine, today I
have approved a new set of sanctions on some of Russia's largest
companies and financial institutions. Along with our allies, with whom I
have been coordinating closely the last several days and weeks, I've
repeatedly made it clear that Russia must halt the flow of weapons and
fighters across the border into Ukraine, that Russia must urge
separatists to release their hostages and support a ceasefire, that
Russia needs to pursue internationally mediated talks and agree to
meaningful monitors on the border."

The new sanctions are the most extensive on Russia to date, with targets
including the state-controlled energy giants Gazprom and Rosneft.
Ukraine has seen continued violence in recent weeks, with the
U.S.-backed Kiev government launching major attacks on Russian-leaning
southeastern areas.

 

.