The USA and the European Union have reached a consensus on slapping tougher sanctions on Russia, including economic and financial penalties for Kremlin’s continued support to the pro-Russia separatists in Ukraine.
The decision came ahead of a meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels today to finalise the details of the plan.
US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, agreed on “further action” against Russia in a conference call yesterday, a government spokesman said.
New sanctions contemplated by the EU include restricting the access of Russian banks to the European financial markets and a ban on the export of military goods, high technology in the energy sector and dual-use goods, which can be used for civilian and military purposes.
The leaders were unanimous in their view that Russia had failed to take the necessary steps to de-escalate the conflict in eastern Ukraine.