The Obama administration announced the sanctions Monday following the European Union, which designated 21 officials from Russia and Ukraine for travel bans and trade sanctions.
The moves came in response to Crimea's declaration of independence from Ukraine Monday and it plans to apply to become part of Russia. Crimea's regional assembly declared independence for the region after a referendum on Sunday indicated voters' overwhelming support for joining the Russian Federation.
In addition to responses from the U.S. and the European Union, NATO released a statement Monday calling the vote "illegal and illegitimate." It said the vote violates the Ukrainian constitution and international law, and added that the circumstances under which the referendum was held were "deeply flawed and therefore unacceptable."
Despite objections from the international community, a delegation of Crimean lawmakers is traveling to Moscow Monday to discuss additional procedures required to become part of the Russian Federation.
Ukraine's parliament has approved a partial mobilization of reservists in response to the crisis.
Crimea's election chief announced Monday that nearly 97 percent of the voters cast ballots supporting secession and a move to join Russia. However, those opposed to the move had been advised to boycott the referendum.
Crimea's pro-Moscow leader, Sergei Aksyonov, announced that his government will formally apply on Monday to join the Russian Federation.
In Kyiv, Ukraine's interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk called the Moscow-backed Crimea vote "a circus spectacle" directed at gunpoint by Russia.
An earlier White House statement said no decision should be made about the future of Ukraine without the Ukrainian national government.
It also said the presidential election planned for May 25 will provide a legitimate opportunity for all Ukrainians to make their voices heard on the future of their country.
Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday agreed to push for Ukrainian constitutional reforms for power sharing and decentralization as a solution to the crisis.
In Kyiv, Ukraine's acting defense minister told reporters that Ukraine and Russia have agreed on a truce in Crimea until March 21.
Sunday's vote came a day after Russian forces seized a natural gas facility just outside Crimean territory. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called the move "a military invasion by Russia."
Ukraine provides the peninsula with all of its water and energy needs, and some analysts say the seizure may be aimed at ensuring the peninsula's energy requirements are met in the event Kyiv were to cut off supplies.
http://www.voanews.com/content/us-eu-declare-sanctions-on-russian-officials-ukrainians/1872813.html
17/3/14
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Sanktionen gegen Russland Amerika und EU bestrafen Putin ....
ReplyDelete17.03.2014 · Die EU hat Sanktionen gegen 21 Verantwortliche in Russland und auf der Krim verhängt. Sie werden mit Einreiseverboten und Kontosperrungen belegt. Die Strafmaßnahmen der Vereinigten Staaten treffen sieben Russen und vier Ukrainer. FAZ.NET nennt die Namen. ......http://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/europaeische-union/sanktionen-gegen-russland-amerika-und-eu-bestrafen-putin-12850644.html
17/3/14
US warns of further sanctions on Russia if Crimea formally annexed ....
ReplyDeleteWASHINGTON - Russia could face additional sanctions if it proceeds with formal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region or takes further military action in Ukraine, a senior US official said on Monday.
There is "concrete evidence" that some ballots arrived "pre-marked" in Sunday's secession referendum in Crimea and other voting anomalies were also detected, another US official said after Washington announced visa bans and asset freezes on 11 Russian and Ukrainian officials.
http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/US-warns-of-further-sanctions-on-Russia-if-Crimea-formally-annexed-345612
17/3/14
Poutine signe le décret reconnaissant l'indépendance de la Crimée...
ReplyDeleteLa Russie, "compte tenu de la volonté des peuples de Crimée exprimée lors du référendum du 16 mars 2014", décide de "reconnaître la République de Crimée comme Etat souverain et indépendant où la ville de Sébastopol a un statut spécial", selon le texte du décret publié par la présidence russe. Le décret entre en vigueur "le jour de sa signature", selon ce texte..............http://www.rtl.be/info/monde/europe/1076850/poutine-signe-le-decret-reconnaissant-l-independance-de-la-crimee
17/3/14
Disruption of contract on Mistral helicopter carriers envisages serious penalty sanctions...
ReplyDeleteAn option to cancel the deal on sale of helicopter carriers Mistral is on the list of measures within third portion of sanctions against Russia.
Disruption of the contract on building two Mistral landing helicopter carriers in France envisages serious penalty sanctions. A source in the United Shipbuilding Corporation told this Itar-Tass on Tuesday commenting on the French Foreign Ministry’s statement over France’s possible annulment of the deal.
“As for the purely financial aspect of the issue, it should be noted that the 2011 contract envisages very serious penalty sanctions if a party to the contract fails to fulfill its liabilities,” the source said.
An option to cancel the deal on sale of helicopter carriers Mistral is on the list of measures within third portion of sanctions against Russia, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said live on TV channel TF-1 on Monday. In his words, Paris may take this step in case of further escalation of the situation in Ukraine.
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/724110
18/3/14
France will have to pay Russia over 1.2€ bln if Mistral contract severed-govt...
ReplyDeleteFrance will have to pay Russia over 1.2 billion euros in compensation if it severs the contract for the construction and delivery of Mistral landing ships, an official familiar with the situation told ARMS-TASS on Wednesday, March 19.
This sum will include the contract price of two Mistral ships and penalties for failure to deliver the ships, he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said earlier that before severing the contract France should calculate its own losses. “The tide over Crimea will subside and relations will be restored. And when European politicians make such statements today, they should think about their consequences, primarily for the interests of their own countries. And I personally ask the minister of foreign affairs of France and other European politicians to calm down. Otherwise, they will take steps that will certainly entail consequences,” Rogozin said.
A possible annulment of the contract to build two Mistral ships is among the third series of sanctions against Russia, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told TF-1 television on March 17. He said Paris might take this step in the event of further escalation of the situation in Ukraine.....................http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/724458
19/3/14
Vente de Mistral à la Russie: décision reportée à octobre....
ReplyDeleteL'éventuelle suspension de la vente par la France à la Russie de deux navires de guerre Mistral, une menace brandie cette semaine par Paris sur fond de crise ukrainienne, sera décidée en octobre au moment de la livraison, a affirmé jeudi le ministre de la Défense Jean-Yves Le Drian.
"La livraison du premier bâtiment a lieu au mois d'octobre, donc la question de la suspension se posera au mois d'octobre", a souligné M. Le Drian sur RMC et BFMTV. Lundi, le ministre français des Affaires étrangères Laurent Fabius avait affirmé que la France pourrait "envisager d'annuler ces ventes "si Poutine continue ce qu'il fait" en Ukraine.
http://www.rtl.be/info/monde/france/1077522/vente-de-mistral-a-la-russie-decision-reportee-a-octobre
20/3/14
La République tchèque opposée aux sanctions contre la Russie...
ReplyDeleteLa Chambre des députés du parlement tchèque n'a pas suivi la ligne générale de l'UE. Le parlement a noté dans son communiqué : « La Chambre des députés n'a pas approuvé la proposition faite au gouvernement de promouvoir l'introduction des sanctions économiques contre la Russie dans le cadre de l'UE ».
Les députés tchèques n'ont pas avalisé non plus une augmentation du financement de l'armée tchèque. A l'heure actuelle, le budget du ministère de la Défense constitue 1,1 % du PIB. Il a été projeté de le porter à 1,3 % l'année prochaine et à 2 % du PIB en 2017.
Lire la suite: http://french.ruvr.ru/news/2014_03_26/La-Republique-tcheque-ne-soutient-pas-les-sanctions-contre-la-Russie-4466/
26/3/14