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| U.S. Imposes Visa Ban in Ukraine Crisis | U.S. Imposes Visa Ban in Ukraine Crisis |
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| ROME — The State Department has imposed a ban on visas for officials and other people deemed to have taken steps to undermine the territorial integrity of Ukraine, the White House announced on Thursday. | ROME — The State Department has imposed a ban on visas for officials and other people deemed to have taken steps to undermine the territorial integrity of Ukraine, the White House announced on Thursday. |
| The measure is particularly significant because the ban will apply to Russian as well as Ukrainian citizens who are “responsible for or complicit in threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” a statement issued by Jay Carney, the White House spokesman, said. | The measure is particularly significant because the ban will apply to Russian as well as Ukrainian citizens who are “responsible for or complicit in threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” a statement issued by Jay Carney, the White House spokesman, said. |
| The restrictions are in addition to visa bans that have already been imposed on those considered responsible for human rights abuses and political oppression in Ukraine. | The restrictions are in addition to visa bans that have already been imposed on those considered responsible for human rights abuses and political oppression in Ukraine. |
| The new block on visas is the easiest step for the Obama administration to take because any ban can be imposed immediately and on the sole discretion of the government. But Washington cannot publicly disclose the names of those subject to the ban, which limits its effectiveness because the targets would only know that they had been barred if they applied for a visa to travel to the United States or if they already had a visa, in which case they would be told that the visa had been revoked. | |
| President Obama also issued an executive order that provides the legal basis for imposing additional penalties on “individuals and entities” who have undermined Ukraine’s territorial integrity, misappropriated Ukraine’s assets or have asserted authority over parts of Ukraine without the approval of the Ukrainian government, a reference to officials in Crimea who claim they have broken free of Ukraine and are seeking Russian protection. | President Obama also issued an executive order that provides the legal basis for imposing additional penalties on “individuals and entities” who have undermined Ukraine’s territorial integrity, misappropriated Ukraine’s assets or have asserted authority over parts of Ukraine without the approval of the Ukrainian government, a reference to officials in Crimea who claim they have broken free of Ukraine and are seeking Russian protection. |
| The executive order would permit the government to go further. Under the order, Washington could issue new visa bans that would allow the targets to be named publicly and it could authorize asset seizures. But officials cautioned that it would take time to develop those financial measures because, unlike with a visa ban, they have to have evidence that would hold up against a court challenge. | The executive order would permit the government to go further. Under the order, Washington could issue new visa bans that would allow the targets to be named publicly and it could authorize asset seizures. But officials cautioned that it would take time to develop those financial measures because, unlike with a visa ban, they have to have evidence that would hold up against a court challenge. |
| The penalties under the executive order could include the freezing of assets or preventing Americans from doing business with certain people. | The penalties under the executive order could include the freezing of assets or preventing Americans from doing business with certain people. |
| The executive order, “is a flexible tool that will allow us to sanction those who are most directly involved in destabilizing Ukraine, including the military intervention in Crimea, and does not preclude further steps should the situation deteriorate,” the White House statement said. | The executive order, “is a flexible tool that will allow us to sanction those who are most directly involved in destabilizing Ukraine, including the military intervention in Crimea, and does not preclude further steps should the situation deteriorate,” the White House statement said. |
| The moves come as Secretary of State John Kerry is continuing his consultations in Rome on the Ukraine crisis. He is expected to meet with Sergey V. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, later on Thursday. | The moves come as Secretary of State John Kerry is continuing his consultations in Rome on the Ukraine crisis. He is expected to meet with Sergey V. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, later on Thursday. |