Obama to toughen sanctions on Russia

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is preparing to increase U.S. sanctions on Russia in a coordinated effort with European leaders in response to Russia’s continued role in supporting the separatist fighters in neighboring Ukraine, a senior administration official said Monday.

The sanctions would, for the first time, target key sectors of the Russian economy, including parts of its banking and energy industries.

Obama held a conference call with the British, French, Italian and German heads of government Monday and agreed on a coordinated strategy, deputy national security adviser Tony Blinken said. The Europeans had shown a “determination to act,” he said.

Fearing damage to their own economies, European leaders earlier this year had resisted U.S. pressure for stronger sanctions against Moscow. But the shooting down of a Malaysia Airlines jet over Ukraine this month changed that and led to pressure in Europe for stronger action.

In Monday’s call, the leaders agreed on the “importance of coordinated sanctions measures on Russia for its continued transfer of arms, equipment and fighters into eastern Ukraine, including since the (airline) crash, and to press Russia to end its efforts to destabilize the country and instead choose a diplomatic path to resolving the crisis,” Blinken said.

“In turn and in full coordination with Europe, the United States will implement additional measures itself. Our purpose here again is not to punish Russia but to make clear that it must cease its support for the separatists and stop destabilizing Ukraine,” he said.

In addition to the downing of the Malaysia Airlines plane, the massing of Russian troops along the Ukrainian border and the steady flow of weapons to Russian separatists in Ukraine has raised the level of anxiety in the European Union.

U.S. and European leaders have insisted that Russia bears partial responsibility for the downing of the plane, which they say was destroyed by a missile supplied to the separatists by Russia, which has also trained separatist fighters on how to use the weapons. The refusal of Russian leaders to accept any responsibility for their role has fueled American diplomatic efforts to increase pressure on Moscow.

During Monday’s call, Obama discussed the conflict with British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. The leaders also talked about the conflicts in Gaza, Iraq and Libya, officials said.