New US sanctions target 7 members of Putin’s inner circle

The White House statement Monday said 7 individuals, including Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, Dep. PM Dmitry Kozak and Chairman of the Duma international affairs committee, Aleksei Pushkov, would be subject to visa bans and asset freezes.  The 17 companies would also have their assets frozen. Washington will revoke export licenses for high technology items that “could contribute to Russia’s military capabilities” and withhold new ones. The White House accused Moscow of doing “nothing to meet its Geneva commitments and in fact further escalated the crisis.” The announcement was made during President Barack Obama’s stop in Manila, the last of his Asia tour.
The EU is expected to impose its sanctions later Monday on about 15 Russians.