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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Ukraine crisis: US widens sanctions against Russia | Ukraine crisis: US widens sanctions against Russia |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US has increased sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, targeting major banks, defence and energy firms. | The US has increased sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, targeting major banks, defence and energy firms. |
| Among those on the list are Gazprombank and Rosneft as well as senior officials in Russia and the self-declared rebel entities in eastern Ukraine. | Among those on the list are Gazprombank and Rosneft as well as senior officials in Russia and the self-declared rebel entities in eastern Ukraine. |
| The US has steadily escalated its sanctions against Russia over what it says is Moscow's backing of the rebels - a claim denied by the Kremlin. | The US has steadily escalated its sanctions against Russia over what it says is Moscow's backing of the rebels - a claim denied by the Kremlin. |
| The EU also agreed to tighten its own sanctions against Russia. | The EU also agreed to tighten its own sanctions against Russia. |
| The leaders of the 28-member bloc are currently holding talks in Brussels. | The leaders of the 28-member bloc are currently holding talks in Brussels. |
| Heavy fighting | Heavy fighting |
| The new round of US sanctions announced by the US treasury significantly expands previous penalties by Washington, which were limited to individuals in Russia and Ukraine and a number of companies. | The new round of US sanctions announced by the US treasury significantly expands previous penalties by Washington, which were limited to individuals in Russia and Ukraine and a number of companies. |
| This time they include the giant oil firm Rosneft and two major banks - Gazprombank and Vnesheconombank. | This time they include the giant oil firm Rosneft and two major banks - Gazprombank and Vnesheconombank. |
| The weapons manufacturer Kalashnikov Concern is also on the list. | The weapons manufacturer Kalashnikov Concern is also on the list. |
| Rajini Vaidyanathan, BBC News, Washington | Rajini Vaidyanathan, BBC News, Washington |
| The White House says these new sanctions are broad, flexible and potent. The inclusion of Russia's largest oil firm Rozneft, which signed a $1.5bn (£875m) deal with BP, is perhaps the most eye catching. | The White House says these new sanctions are broad, flexible and potent. The inclusion of Russia's largest oil firm Rozneft, which signed a $1.5bn (£875m) deal with BP, is perhaps the most eye catching. |
| The question is will they make the desired impact - hitting President Putin where it hurts, and getting him to "de-escalate" his actions in Ukraine. | The question is will they make the desired impact - hitting President Putin where it hurts, and getting him to "de-escalate" his actions in Ukraine. |
| This latest set of economic sanctions follows a round imposed earlier this year which the White House says have hurt Russia's economy. But they haven't tempered Russia, or President Putin's resolve. | This latest set of economic sanctions follows a round imposed earlier this year which the White House says have hurt Russia's economy. But they haven't tempered Russia, or President Putin's resolve. |
| On Tuesday the Pentagon said it had seen an increase in Russian troops at the border with Ukraine. With as many as 12,000 now there, it believes Russia is still supporting the separatist movement in the country. If this latest set of sanctions doesn't force Russia to scale down, what will? | On Tuesday the Pentagon said it had seen an increase in Russian troops at the border with Ukraine. With as many as 12,000 now there, it believes Russia is still supporting the separatist movement in the country. If this latest set of sanctions doesn't force Russia to scale down, what will? |
| Two self-proclaimed rebel entities in eastern Ukraine - the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic - are also targeted. | Two self-proclaimed rebel entities in eastern Ukraine - the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic - are also targeted. |
| Speaking in Washington, US President Barack Obama said the sanctions were imposed because Russia had failed to fulfil its promises to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine. | Speaking in Washington, US President Barack Obama said the sanctions were imposed because Russia had failed to fulfil its promises to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine. |
| "These sanctions are significant, but they are also targeted, designed to have the maximum impact on Russia while limiting any spill-over impact on American companies or those of our allies," he told reporters. | |
| Mr Obama also stressed US support for Ukraine, saying that "Ukrainians deserve to forge their own destiny". | |
| The US penalties stop short of a complete disengagement with sectors of the Russian economy - a step that US officials said was being held in reserve in case Moscow launches a military invasion of Ukraine. | The US penalties stop short of a complete disengagement with sectors of the Russian economy - a step that US officials said was being held in reserve in case Moscow launches a military invasion of Ukraine. |
| Russia denounced the US move. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Russia would take measures "that will be felt quite painfully in Washington", Interfax news agency reports. | Russia denounced the US move. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Russia would take measures "that will be felt quite painfully in Washington", Interfax news agency reports. |
| In Brussels, the EU leaders agreed to beef up their own sanctions against Russia. | In Brussels, the EU leaders agreed to beef up their own sanctions against Russia. |
| They said the list "of entities and persons" affected would be announced by the end of July. | They said the list "of entities and persons" affected would be announced by the end of July. |
| The EU said it would suspend new investments in Russia by the EU's European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). | The EU said it would suspend new investments in Russia by the EU's European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). |
| Meanwhile in Ukraine itself, heavy fighting continued in the east. | Meanwhile in Ukraine itself, heavy fighting continued in the east. |
| Ukrainian officials said 11 soldiers died in the space of 24 hours. The number of casualties among pro-Russian separatists was not immediately known. | Ukrainian officials said 11 soldiers died in the space of 24 hours. The number of casualties among pro-Russian separatists was not immediately known. |
| Russia annexed Ukraine's southern autonomous republic of Crimea after a disputed referendum in March. | |
| It has since been accused of arming separatists in the east and even sending regular Russian troops to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions - a claim denied by the Kremlin. | |
| More than 1,000 civilians and combatants have been killed since mid-April, when Ukrainian security forces moved to regain control of the eastern regions, while tens of thousands of people have fled. | |
| The crisis has led to the most serious standoff between Russia and the West since the end of the Cold War. |