New
European Unions sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis will
take effect from today, blocking loans for five big state banks and
curbing EU business with oil and defence firms. The EU said, the aim is
to keep pressure on Russia over its role
in the Ukraine crisis.However it said that the sanctions could be eased or lifted if a ceasefire in Ukraine holds.
US President Barack Obama said, his country will join the EU in imposing tougher sanctions on Russia,argeting the defence, finance and energy sectors and he will provide details today. Meanwhile, Russia's Foreign Ministry has accused the EU of undermining peace efforts in Ukraine after the bloc slapped more sanctions on Moscow over its role in the crisis.Russia says, it is preparing a response. One top Russian official said cars imported from the EU could be targeted. NATO has said, Russia still has about 1,000 heavily armed troops in east Ukraine. The EU and US accuse the Kremlin of directly helping pro-Russia separatists in Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions by sending regular soldiers across the border, along with sophisticated weapons including tanks. Moscow denies the allegations.
