They also agreed to draw up a first list of companies and people to be targeted with asset freezes by the end of July.
The leaders, who met at a summit in Brussels, have decided to ask the European Investment Bank to suspend new lending for Russia.
The EU will also look into the possibility of targeting companies and people that support Russian decision-makers responsible for annexing Ukraine's Crimea region or destabilising eastern Ukraine.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Russia had failed to fulfil commitments to restore peace in the region.
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Meanwhile, the US has imposed its most wide-ranging sanctions yet on Russia's economy.
US President Barack Obama said tonight that Russia has failed to take any steps to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine.
Mr Obama said the new actions showed there were consequences to Russian President Vladimir Putin's aggression in the region.
Those targeted include Gazprombank and the Rosneft Oil Co, as well as other major banks and energy and defence companies.
The US has steadily escalated its financial sanctions on Russia over what it views as its interference in Ukraine.
The sanctions stopped short of targeting Gazprom, the world's largest natural gas producer and provider of much of Europe's energy supplies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the US sanctions will take relations with Russia to a "dead end".
Speaking to reporters on a visit to Brazil, Mr Putin said he needed to see the details of the sanctions to understand their full scope.
[rte.ie]
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EU summit calls for continuation of gas consultations with Russia, Ukraine...
ReplyDeleteThe EU summit has supported the continuation of trilateral consultations with Russia and Ukraine on natural gas and on the implementation of Ukraine's Association Agreement with the EU, says a statement adopted by the EU summit on Thursday.
“The European Council stresses the European Union’s commitment to pursue trilateral talks on the conditions of gas supply from the Russian Federation to Ukraine and commends the efforts of the Commission in that regard. Finding a swift agreement is important for safeguarding the security of supply and transit of natural gas through Ukraine to EU Member States and for the stabilisation of Ukraine's economy,” the document says.
“The European Council stresses the importance of Ukraine ratifying the Association Agreement with a view to its early provisional application. It welcomes the holding of trilateral consultations at ministerial level between Ukraine, the Russian Federation and the European Union on 11 July on the implementation of the Association Agreement. In this context, it also welcomes the setting up of a consultation mechanism to address potential difficulties resulting from the effects of the implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area on the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement of the Commonwealth of Independent States,” the summit’s statement said.
http://en.itar-tass.com/economy/741047
Putin says further US sanctions to push relations to 'dead end'...
ReplyDeleteRussian President Vladimir Putin said in Brasilia Wednesday that expanded US sanctions will push US-Russian relations to a "dead end."
The Russian leader, who was on a visit to Brazil, told reports that the US moves will seriously damage the Russian-US relationship.
Putin also expressed the need to see the details of the sanctions to understand their full scope.
"One has to look what these sanctions are, to sort this out thoroughly, without haste, calmly," he was quoted as saying by Russia's Itar-Tass news agency.
The United States on Wednesday escalated sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis, targeting firms in Russia's financial, energy and arms sectors....................http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/871063.shtml