European Union Adds 15 To Sanctions List, Due To Russia's Actions In Ukraine
The decision brings to 48 the number of people that the EU has put under sanctions for, it says, helping undermineUkraine's territorial integrity.
The names of the 15 will not be made public until they are published in theEU's Official Journalon Tuesday.
EU diplomats said they would not include the heads of Russian energy giants such as Rosneft's Igor Sechin, who was included on a new U.S. sanctions list on Monday.
The EU decision coincided with aWhite Houseannouncement that theUnited Stateswas imposing sanctions against seven Russians and 17 companies linked to Russian PresidentVladimir Putin.
TheUnited Stateshas been much more aggressive in the penalties it has imposed onRussiathan has the 28-nationEuropean Union, which depends heavily onRussiafor energy.
The EU has so far only put sanctions on individuals, not companies. EU ambassadors, meeting on Monday, discussed the need to broaden the legal basis to enable the bloc to put sanctions on companies, diplomats said.
TheEuropean Commissionis drawing up a list of tougher economic sanctions, possibly affecting trade or the energy or finance sectors, that could be imposed onRussia.
The EU is split between countries in favor of stronger action, including Britain,France,Poland,Sweden,Denmark, theCzech Republicand the Baltic countries, and those who are reluctant, such asItaly,Greece,Cyprus,Bulgaria,Hungary,Luxembourg,Austria,Spain,PortugalandMalta.
"The main issue is to see how best to get a diplomatic resolution to the crisis, what is necessary to enticeRussiato sit around the (negotiating) table. Sanctions are not an end in themselves," one diplomat said.
Another diplomat said he believed the EU would eventually decide on tougher sanctions againstRussiaif the situation inUkrainecontinued to deteriorate.
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European Union Adds 15 To Sanctions List, Due To Russia's Actions In Ukraine