Obama ratchets up the pressure on Moscow with fresh sanctions

The White House said the penalties are being levied because Russia has failed to live up to commitments it agreed under an international accord aimed at 
de-escalating the crisis in Ukraine.

It said it was prepared to “impose still greater costs” if Russia continues its provocations in Ukraine.

In addition to the sanctions, the US is revoking export licences for high-technology items that it says could contribute to Russia’s military capabilities.

The White House announcement comes while President Barack Obama is travelling in Asia.

He said earlier: “The goal here is not to go after Mr Putin personally.

“The goal is to change his calculus with respect to how the current actions that he’s engaging in could have an adverse impact on the Russian economy over the long haul.”

White House officials said they decided last week to impose the new sanctions after determining that Russia had not lived up to its commitments under a fragile diplomatic accord aimed at easing the crisis in Ukraine.

But the US held off on implementing them in order to coordinate its actions with the European Union, which could also announce new penalties.

The US sanctions were followed by new penalties from the European Union, with diplomats saying it is adding 15 more officials to its sanctions list.

Three diplomats separately confirmed that ambassadors of the EU’s 28 nations have signed off to broadening the bloc’s 
travel ban and asset freeze sanctions.

The decision still requires formal approval from the EU’s national governments but officials said that was a rubber stamp procedure.

The names of the individuals targeted were not immediately released, but among them is known to be Igor Sechin, the president of state oil company Rosneft, who has worked for Mr Putin since the early 1990s.