EU to impose broad sanctions on Russia for Crimea occupation

The European Union may impose sanctions on Russia, including the freezing of government officials’ bank accounts in the EU, in response to Russia destabilizing the political situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the Ukrainian daily media Segodnya.ua, wrote March 10.

“If Russia does not change its political position towards Ukraine in the nearest future and does not withdraw its troops from the Crimean peninsula, the EU will have a high chance to impose broad sanctions towards the Russian Federation,” the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told the media.

Apart from arresting the bank accounts of Russian officials in Europe, the EU also may also impose travel restrictions on those responsible for the crisis in Ukraine, according to Segodnya.ua.

Russia began the occupation of the Crimea in late February by blocking the airports in Sevastopol and Simpheropol after the Crimean authorities asked Russia to ensure peace and stability on the peninsula, the Ukrainian media Ukrainskaya Pravda wrote.