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EU Imposes New Restrictions On Russia

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The European Union on Tuesday agreed to impose new sanctions against Russia due to their failure to deescalate the conflict in Ukraine. The restrictions came as a response to increasing international pressure to hold the former Soviet Union accountable for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.

The sanctions were announced shortly after pro-Russian rebels in Donetsk turned over the downed aircraft’s black boxes to Malaysian authorities who have been stalled from starting an official investigation of the crash. However, EU leaders hesitated to impose tougher sanctions that could severely affect the Russian economy, the Associated Press reported.

The EU agreed to impose visa bans and asset freezes on more Russian officials, Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans said, but declined to reveal to whom these sanctions would be applied. Although he warned that the EU is prepared to impose more extensive sanctions if their recent actions fail to curb the growing conflict in Ukraine.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”– Frank-Walter Steinmeier” author_title=”German Foreign Minister “]

Russia has not done enough to contribute to a deescalation of the conflict.

[/quote]

British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday urged the EU to impose “hard-hitting sanctions” against Russia such as restrictions on Russian banks and airlines and asset freezes on the oligarchs and cronies who support Russian President Vladimir Putin as the country continues to menace its neighbors.

Cameron also warned that there is a looming threat very similar to the Second World War, and he likened Russia to Nazi Germany, The Telegraph reported.

“President Putin faces a clear choice in how he decides to respond to this appalling tragedy,” Cameron said. “I hope he will use this moment to find a path out of this festering and dangerous crisis by ending Russia’s support for the separatists.”

“If he does not change his approach to Ukraine in this then Europe and the West must fundamentally change our approach to Russia. Those of us in Europe should not need to be reminded of the consequences of turning a blind eye when big countries bully smaller countries.”

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