President Barack Obama and four key European allies agreed on Friday that Russia failed to live up to the terms of the Ukraine peace accord, and would coordinate on a response to "impose costs" on Russia, the White House said.
"The president noted that the United States is prepared to impose targeted sanctions to respond to Russia’s latest actions," the White House said in a statement after Obama’s conference call with French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, and British Prime Minister David Cameron.
"The leaders agreed to work closely together, and through the G7 and European Union, to coordinate additional steps to impose costs on Russia. The leaders underscored that Russia could still choose a peaceful resolution to the crisis, including by implementing the Geneva accord," the White House said.
The second stage of sanctions comprises overseas asset freezes and visa bans on those Russians and Ukrainians considered responsible for the escalation. Dozens of individuals are already on the list. Stage three, under preparation, would involve trade and economic sanctions against Moscow.
In a further escalation of tensions on Friday, the main separatist leader in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk said that a military "spy" for the Kiev government was in a group of international military observers who have been held by the rebels.
"It was reported to me that among them (the detained group) was an employee of the Kiev secret military staff," said Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, de facto mayor of the city which is controlled by pro-Russian separatists opposed to the central government.
"People who come here as observers for the European community bringing with them a real spy – that is inappropriate," Ponomaryov told reporters.
The group is from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
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via jpost.com
Source: http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=350451&R=R4
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