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With Ukraine Tensions Mounting, U.S. Weighs New Sanctions Against Russia With Ukraine Tensions Mounting, U.S. Weighs New Sanctions Against Russia
(5 months later)
WASHINGTON — President Obama warned President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Monday against further disruption of eastern Ukraine even as the United States and Europe prepared to expand sanctions against leading Russian figures in the next few days. WASHINGTON — President Obama warned President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Monday against further disruption of eastern Ukraine even as the United States and Europe prepared to expand sanctions against leading Russian figures in the next few days.
After a weekend of meetings, the White House was working on a list of new targets who would be barred from traveling to the United States or whose assets here would be frozen, officials said. Among them is Igor Sechin, a longtime Putin ally and the president of Rosneft, the largest state-owned Russian oil company, which has a major joint venture with ExxonMobil. European ministers agreed on Monday on a list of their own.After a weekend of meetings, the White House was working on a list of new targets who would be barred from traveling to the United States or whose assets here would be frozen, officials said. Among them is Igor Sechin, a longtime Putin ally and the president of Rosneft, the largest state-owned Russian oil company, which has a major joint venture with ExxonMobil. European ministers agreed on Monday on a list of their own.
The American sanctions would also be imposed on at least one Russian institution that is deemed part of the so-called crony network supporting Mr. Putin, officials said. But they added that Mr. Obama does not plan to place more crippling measures on whole sectors of the Russian economy unless the Kremlin escalates its actions. The White House wants to hold those sanctions in reserve should Moscow invade Ukraine or seek to annex its eastern regions.The American sanctions would also be imposed on at least one Russian institution that is deemed part of the so-called crony network supporting Mr. Putin, officials said. But they added that Mr. Obama does not plan to place more crippling measures on whole sectors of the Russian economy unless the Kremlin escalates its actions. The White House wants to hold those sanctions in reserve should Moscow invade Ukraine or seek to annex its eastern regions.
The debate over the Western response came as tensions continued to mount. The Pentagon said Monday that a Russian attack aircraft made 12 close passes near an American destroyer in the Black Sea on Saturday. And the White House confirmed that John O. Brennan, the director of the C.I.A., visited Kiev over the weekend, a move that provided propaganda ammunition to the Kremlin, which has presented the crisis as an American-orchestrated intervention.The debate over the Western response came as tensions continued to mount. The Pentagon said Monday that a Russian attack aircraft made 12 close passes near an American destroyer in the Black Sea on Saturday. And the White House confirmed that John O. Brennan, the director of the C.I.A., visited Kiev over the weekend, a move that provided propaganda ammunition to the Kremlin, which has presented the crisis as an American-orchestrated intervention.
Judging by public accounts, the latest telephone call between Mr. Obama and Mr. Putin did little to bridge the divide. In the call, requested by Moscow, Mr. Obama accused Mr. Putin of trying to subvert Ukraine by fomenting takeovers of security buildings. “The president expressed grave concern about Russian government support for the actions of armed, pro-Russian separatists who threaten to undermine and destabilize the government of Ukraine,” the White House said in a statement.Judging by public accounts, the latest telephone call between Mr. Obama and Mr. Putin did little to bridge the divide. In the call, requested by Moscow, Mr. Obama accused Mr. Putin of trying to subvert Ukraine by fomenting takeovers of security buildings. “The president expressed grave concern about Russian government support for the actions of armed, pro-Russian separatists who threaten to undermine and destabilize the government of Ukraine,” the White House said in a statement.
Mr. Putin denied interfering in Ukraine. “Such speculations are based on inaccurate information,” the Kremlin said in a statement. Instead, he placed blame for the turmoil on Ukraine’s new pro-Western government and its “unwillingness and inability to take into account the interests of the Russian and Russian-speaking population.”Mr. Putin denied interfering in Ukraine. “Such speculations are based on inaccurate information,” the Kremlin said in a statement. Instead, he placed blame for the turmoil on Ukraine’s new pro-Western government and its “unwillingness and inability to take into account the interests of the Russian and Russian-speaking population.”
The United States and Europe are moving to shore up that government. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew met with his Ukrainian counterpart in Washington for the signing of a $1 billion loan guarantee agreement, while European Union foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg approved $1.4 billion in assistance.The United States and Europe are moving to shore up that government. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew met with his Ukrainian counterpart in Washington for the signing of a $1 billion loan guarantee agreement, while European Union foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg approved $1.4 billion in assistance.
The sides were debating how far and how fast to apply additional sanctions. The Obama administration was trying to decide whether to impose them before a meeting scheduled for Thursday in Geneva that is to bring together Secretary of State John Kerry with counterparts from Russia, Ukraine and Europe.The sides were debating how far and how fast to apply additional sanctions. The Obama administration was trying to decide whether to impose them before a meeting scheduled for Thursday in Geneva that is to bring together Secretary of State John Kerry with counterparts from Russia, Ukraine and Europe.
Some officials argued in favor of holding off sanctions, reasoning that it would sour the Geneva meeting and make it harder to forge a diplomatic solution. Others countered that taking action before the meeting would strengthen the hand of the West and signal that continued provocation would not be accepted. Mr. Obama called President François Hollande of France on Monday to coordinate positions.Some officials argued in favor of holding off sanctions, reasoning that it would sour the Geneva meeting and make it harder to forge a diplomatic solution. Others countered that taking action before the meeting would strengthen the hand of the West and signal that continued provocation would not be accepted. Mr. Obama called President François Hollande of France on Monday to coordinate positions.
“There will be further costs imposed on Russia,” Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, told reporters before the president’s call with Mr. Putin. “And certainly if they go further down the road of attempting to destabilize Ukraine rather than choosing the path of de-escalation, the costs will continue to grow.”“There will be further costs imposed on Russia,” Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, told reporters before the president’s call with Mr. Putin. “And certainly if they go further down the road of attempting to destabilize Ukraine rather than choosing the path of de-escalation, the costs will continue to grow.”
Targeting Mr. Sechin would aim directly at Mr. Putin’s inner circle. Rosneft, Mr. Sechin’s oil company, is deeply involved with Western firms. BP owns nearly 20 percent of the company, and ExxonMobil has multiple projects with Rosneft in Siberia, the Arctic, the Black Sea, Canada, Alaska and Texas.Targeting Mr. Sechin would aim directly at Mr. Putin’s inner circle. Rosneft, Mr. Sechin’s oil company, is deeply involved with Western firms. BP owns nearly 20 percent of the company, and ExxonMobil has multiple projects with Rosneft in Siberia, the Arctic, the Black Sea, Canada, Alaska and Texas.
Lawyers at ExxonMobil are researching the impact of sanctions against Mr. Sechin. Given that they would apply to Mr. Sechin personally and not his company, some specialists said it might mean little more than a logistical hassle because he could not travel to the United States to meet with his ExxonMobil partners.Lawyers at ExxonMobil are researching the impact of sanctions against Mr. Sechin. Given that they would apply to Mr. Sechin personally and not his company, some specialists said it might mean little more than a logistical hassle because he could not travel to the United States to meet with his ExxonMobil partners.
But Anders Aslund, a Russia specialist at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said it would have more of an effect. “If Sechin is banned, it would be very difficult for these companies,” he said. “You don’t want to be connected with a person who’s banned by the United States if you’re a highly U.S.-dependent company.”But Anders Aslund, a Russia specialist at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said it would have more of an effect. “If Sechin is banned, it would be very difficult for these companies,” he said. “You don’t want to be connected with a person who’s banned by the United States if you’re a highly U.S.-dependent company.”
Mr. Brennan’s decision to travel to Kiev, however, struck many in Washington as baffling. Russian television first reported over the weekend that the C.I.A. director had arrived in Kiev under an assumed name to direct operations there. The White House and the C.I.A. initially refused to comment but on Monday confirmed his trip. Mr. Carney said it was meant simply to foster “mutually beneficial security cooperation,” and he called Russia’s characterization “absurd.”Mr. Brennan’s decision to travel to Kiev, however, struck many in Washington as baffling. Russian television first reported over the weekend that the C.I.A. director had arrived in Kiev under an assumed name to direct operations there. The White House and the C.I.A. initially refused to comment but on Monday confirmed his trip. Mr. Carney said it was meant simply to foster “mutually beneficial security cooperation,” and he called Russia’s characterization “absurd.”
Some former intelligence officers privately criticized the visit, saying it only bolstered the conspiracies advanced by Russian officials that the C.I.A. was behind the Ukrainian unrest that toppled a pro-Moscow president in favor of a government oriented toward the West.Some former intelligence officers privately criticized the visit, saying it only bolstered the conspiracies advanced by Russian officials that the C.I.A. was behind the Ukrainian unrest that toppled a pro-Moscow president in favor of a government oriented toward the West.
But other C.I.A. veterans said there must have been a good reason for him to go because the White House would have known Mr. Brennan would be spotted. “It’s a well-thought-out decision that had to be weighed against playing right into Putin’s message,” said Milton Bearden, chief of the C.I.A.’s Soviet division during the Soviet Union’s collapse.But other C.I.A. veterans said there must have been a good reason for him to go because the White House would have known Mr. Brennan would be spotted. “It’s a well-thought-out decision that had to be weighed against playing right into Putin’s message,” said Milton Bearden, chief of the C.I.A.’s Soviet division during the Soviet Union’s collapse.
The Obama administration was also debating what to do about Russian plans to upgrade digital photographic equipment, radars and infrared sensors carried on two observation planes that typically conduct missions over Ukraine. Under the 1993 Open Skies agreement, nations may carry out unarmed aerial observation missions over each other’s territory to promote openness and dispel fears of attack.The Obama administration was also debating what to do about Russian plans to upgrade digital photographic equipment, radars and infrared sensors carried on two observation planes that typically conduct missions over Ukraine. Under the 1993 Open Skies agreement, nations may carry out unarmed aerial observation missions over each other’s territory to promote openness and dispel fears of attack.
But according to a recent letter by four members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, concerns have been raised about Russia’s missions over Ukraine. Before Russia can carry out observation missions with the improved monitoring, the United States and other signatories of the Open Skies agreement must certify that they may be used. The issue is to be discussed at a meeting of administration officials.But according to a recent letter by four members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, concerns have been raised about Russia’s missions over Ukraine. Before Russia can carry out observation missions with the improved monitoring, the United States and other signatories of the Open Skies agreement must certify that they may be used. The issue is to be discussed at a meeting of administration officials.
“The invasion of Crimea and Moscow’s ongoing efforts to destabilize Ukraine using subversive methods is sufficient reason to counsel further review,” wrote the senators, Mark Warner of Virginia and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, both Democrats, and the Republicans Dan Coats of Indiana and Jim Risch of Idaho.“The invasion of Crimea and Moscow’s ongoing efforts to destabilize Ukraine using subversive methods is sufficient reason to counsel further review,” wrote the senators, Mark Warner of Virginia and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, both Democrats, and the Republicans Dan Coats of Indiana and Jim Risch of Idaho.
In a separate letter to Mr. Obama, Mike Rogers of Michigan, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, urged Mr. Obama to reject the Russian move. “Putin’s attempt to upgrade Russia’s sensing capabilities now is particularly problematic,” he wrote.In a separate letter to Mr. Obama, Mike Rogers of Michigan, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, urged Mr. Obama to reject the Russian move. “Putin’s attempt to upgrade Russia’s sensing capabilities now is particularly problematic,” he wrote.