Western sanctions - 12/19/2014

Obama signs Russia sanctions bill, no plans to use it for now

US Imposes New Crimea Trade Restrictions, Sanctions: White House

According to a White House statement issued Friday, US President Barack Obama has issued an executive order, imposing new restrictions on Crimea and introducing new sanctions against certain individuals, including the Crimean Prosecutor, as well as the heads of the self-proclaimed people's republics of Luhansk and Donetsk

Sputnik,

19 December, 2014

US President Barack Obama has issued an executive order imposing new restrictions on investment and trade with Crimea and introducing new sanctions against certain individuals operating in the region.

According to a White House statement issued Friday, Obama's executive order "prohibits the export of goods, technology, or services to Crimea and prohibits the import of goods, technology, or services from Crimea, as well as new investments in Crimea".

The executive order "also authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to impose sanctions on individuals and entities operating in Crimea", the statement said.

Relations between Russia and the EU have deteriorated with the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, as western governments imposed economic sanctions on Russia, accusing Moscow of aiding independence supporters in eastern regions of the country.

According to the US Treasury Department, Crimean Prosecutor Natalia Poklonskaya, as well as the heads of the self-proclaimed people's republics of Luhansk (LPR) and Donetsk (DPR) — Igor Plotnitsky and Alexander Zakharchenko — are included on the sanctions list.

On Thursday, EU leaders agreed to amend a regulation, concerning Europe's restrictive measures introduced in response to Crimea's reunification with Russia.

The amendment stipulates a ban on all foreign investments in Crimea or Sevastopol.

Crimean voters backed reunification with Russia by an overwhelming 96 percent majority in a referendum held on March 16. Russia's reunification with its former republic led to a current political standoff between Moscow and largely pro-Kiev Western countries that have refused to recognize the legitimacy of the vote.

The West has also been accusing Russia of supporting independence fighters in Ukraine's southeastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, where Kiev forces launched a special military operation in mid-April in response to local residents" refusal to recognize the country's new government. However, no factual evidence has been provided that would support claims of Russia aiding LPR and DPR fighters.

The United States, the European Union and their allies have adopted several rounds of sanctions against Russia over Moscow's alleged role in the Ukrainian crisis. The sanctions target Russia's banking, energy and defense sectors, as well as certain individuals.

Obama: US Ready to Roll Back on Sanctions

US President Barack Obama announced Thursday that Washington does not anticipate new sanctions against Russia and will continue to review and calibrate our sanctions to respond to Russia's actions.

Canada Imposes New Sanctions Against Russia: Prime Minister

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced that Canada is introducing additional economic sanctions and travel bans against Russian and Ukrainian individuals over its alleged involvement in the Ukrainian crisis.

Sputnik,

19 December, 2014

Canada is introducing additional sanctions against Russia over its alleged involvement in the Ukrainian crisis, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced.

"Canada will not accept the illegal occupation of Crimea and persistent, provocative military activity in eastern Ukraine. As such, we are once again announcing additional economic sanctions and travel bans against Russian and Ukrainian individuals. We are also imposing new restrictions on the export of technology used in Russia's oil exploration and extractive sector and further defining existing debt and equity financing prohibitions," Harper was quoted as saying in a statement published on the Canadian government's website Friday.

According to Harper, Canada has been introducing restrictive measures against Russia "in close collaboration" with its "allies and partners" and could impose more sanctions in the future.

"We stand ready to take further proposed measures with our allies and partners if required," Harper said.

The West has imposed several rounds of economic sanctions against Russia over the past few months over its alleged involvement in the Ukrainian crisis – a claim Moscow has repeatedly denied. The restrictive measures introduced by the European Union, the United States and their allies target Russia's banking, energy and defense sectors.

In response, Moscow has introduced a one-year ban on some food imports from the countries that had sanctioned it. The ban targets beef, pork, fish, poultry, fruits, vegetables, nuts and dairy products from the United States, the European Union, Canada, Australia and Norway.