WASHINGTON — The United States and the European Union hit Russia on Tuesday with tough new sanctions meant to impose stiff economic consequences for Moscow’s continued efforts to destabilize Ukraine.
The sanctions demonstrated a unified front against Russia, and in particular President Vladimir Putin, who has continued to isolate his country from the international community in the wake of the downed Malaysian airplane.
President Obama said the stepped-up sanctions on the energy, arms and financial sectors will have a “bigger bite” on Russia’s already weak economy, but insisted the heightened tensions are “not a new Cold War.”
“It does not have to be this way,” Obama said from the White House. “This is a choice that Russia, and in particular, President Putin, has made.”
Downed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 exacerbated the rift between Russia and the international community over Ukraine as Russia continues to back separatists in the east. Nearly 300 people were killed in the crash, and the United States has blamed Russia for arming the Ukrainian separatists with the surface-to-air missile that downed the plane.
The US had already levied sanctions against Russia the day before the July 17 crash and has since pressured Europe to do more. Until now, Europe has proceeded more cautiously, given its much stronger economic and energy ties with Russia.
European Union President Herman Van Rompuy and the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, said the sanctions send “a powerful signal” that destabilizing Ukraine will come with heavy costs and further isolation.
A lack of access to the crash site controlled by Russian separatists stoked outrage in Europe, home to more than 200 of the dead.
“We have witnessed with anger and frustration the delays in providing international access to the site of the air crash, the tampering with the remains of the plane, and the disrespectful handling of the deceased,” the EU leaders said.
The EU sanctions will limit Russia’s access to capital markets, arms and technology, and include an arms embargo on Moscow and a ban on the unapproved sale to the Russians of certain technology. The US sanctions will prohibit Americans from providing new financing to three Russian financial institutions.