US President Barack Obama has
announced new economic sanctions against Russia, saying they will make
Russia's "weak economy even weaker".
美国总统奥巴马宣布对俄罗斯实行新一轮经济制裁，称这将使俄罗斯“疲软的经济更加疲软”。
He said the co-ordinated actions
of the US and European Union would "have an even bigger bite" on Russia's economy.
The new restrictions include banning Americans
or people in the US from banking with three Russian banks.
The aim is to increase the cost to Russia of its continued support for pro-Moscow rebels in eastern Ukraine.
Moscow denies charges by the EU and US that it is supplying heavy weapons
to the rebels.
Speaking at the White House, Mr Obama said the US was widening its
sanctions to target the key sectors
of the Russian economy - energy,
arms and finance.
"If Russia continues on this current path
, the costs on Russia will continue to grow," Mr Obama said.
The US Treasury said the banks being targeting in this round of
sanctions were VTB, the Bank of Moscow, and the Russian Agriculture Bank
(Rosselkhozbank).
Earlier, the EU also adopted new economic sanctions
against Russia,
targeting the oil sector, defence equipment and sensitive
technologies.