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U.S. Imposes Visa Ban in Ukraine Crisis U.S. Imposes Visa Ban in Ukraine Crisis
(35 minutes later)
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 who have taken steps to undermine the territorial integrity of Ukraine, the Obama administration 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,” according to a statement issued by Jay Carney, the White House press secretary.
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 restrictions are in addition to visa bans that had 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a visa to travel to the United States or if they already had a visa, in which case they would be told that the visa had been revoked. The visa ban was just one step that the Obama administration took on Thursday. President Obama also issued an executive order that provides the legal basis for imposing additional sanctions on “individuals and entities” who have undermined Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
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 restrictions also apply to those who have misappropriated Ukrainian assets or have asserted authority over parts of Ukraine without the approval of the Ukrainian government, a reference to officials in Crimea who claim that they have broken free of Ukraine and who 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 sanctions under the executive order could include freezing assets or preventing Americans from doing business with certain individuals.
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,” the White House statement said, adding that it “does not preclude further steps should the situation deteriorate.”
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 consultations in Rome on the crisis in Ukraine, on the margins of a conference about how to support the Libyan government. Mr. Kerry spoke Thursday with the Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, for their second meeting in two days. Mr. Kerry also met with the foreign ministers of Germany, France, Italy and Britain.
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. Senior officials declined to say how many people would be affected by the visa ban or who they might be, but they emphasized that some existing visas would be nullified. Although the executive order paves the way for additional sanctions, no foreign entities were sanctioned under the measure on Thursday morning, a senior official said.
A block on visas is the easiest step for the Obama administration to take because it can be imposed immediately and at the sole discretion of the government. But Washington cannot publicly disclose the names of those who are subject to the ban, which limits its effectiveness. People 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, if they were told it had been revoked.
The executive order would permit the government to go further. It would allow Washington to issue new visa bans that would let targets be identified publicly, and it could authorize asset seizures. But officials cautioned that it would take time to develop such financial measures because, unlike with a visa ban, they have to have evidence that would hold up against a challenge in court.
The visa ban and the executive order are intended to punish Russia for its military intervention in Crimea and to discourage further military action in eastern Ukraine.
The United States’ European partners, who are considering their own sanctions, were informed about the move in advance. Officials said that the measures had been planned for a while and were not set off by plans for Crimea to hold a referendum on March 16 on joining Russia.
The announcement, a senior official said, should prompt individuals in Russia and Crimea to wonder if they are going to find their name on a list.”