21/03/2014 10:23
EU adds names to Crimea sanctions list
The EU has slapped sanctions on another 12 individuals over Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, the BBC reported.
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said any further steps by Russia to destabilise Ukraine would have "far-reaching consequences."
It comes hours after President Barack Obama announced further US sanctions against Russia over the Crimea crisis.
Crimea is in the process of being absorbed into Russia following a disputed referendum in the peninsula.
The referendum has been described as illegal by Kiev and the West.
A treaty joining Crimea to Russia has now been approved by Russia's lower house of parliament - the Duma - and is expected to be ratified by the upper house on Friday.
Also on Friday, the EU is due to sign the political section of a trade pact with Ukraine - the same agreement that Ukraine's ousted President Viktor Yanukovych declined to sign in November, sparking the current crisis.
Earlier this week, the EU announced asset freezes and travel bans against 21 individuals in Russia and Ukraine. At the same time the US ordered similar sanctions against 11 individuals.
Following a summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday evening, Mr Van Rompuy described Russia's annexation of Crimea as "a clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and of international law."
"We strongly condemn the unconstitutional referendum in Crimea. We will not recognise the annexation, nor will we recognise it in the future," he said.
"There is no place for the use of force and coercion to change borders on the European continent in the 21st Century."
Mr Van Rompuy said that the 28-nation bloc was also cancelling an EU-Russia summit in June and member states would cancel regular bilateral summits.
The names of the latest individuals to be targeted by the EU sanctions will be made public on Friday.
Washington's latest measures target a further 20 people closely associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as a bank, Rossiya, controlled by his allies.
In response, Russia said it was imposing its own sanctions against US officials and politicians.