WASHINGTON — The Obama administration's plans to impose punitive economic sanctions on Russia — potentially its strongest response to Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine — already are facing resistance from administration allies in Congress and Europe.
Although administration officials say they are prepared to freeze assets of top Russian officials and possibly target state-run financial institutions, European allies — who are heavily dependent on Russian oil and gas supplies — signaled they aren't ready to follow suit.
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The Europeans, closer and more intertwined economically with Russia, don't share the U.S. enthusiasm for sanctions as a diplomatic tool, and worry that curbing trade and business could hurt them without persuading Russian President Vladimir Putin to withdraw troops from Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.
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European officials have said they will halt arms sales and cancel various diplomatic and trade meetings with the Russians, including the G-8 summit that was planned for June in Sochi, Russia.
The Obama administration has suspended military ties to Russia, and is considering other moves "that will isolate Russia and will have a negative impact on Russia's economy and its standing in the world."
So far, administration officials have indicated that they will sanction individual members of the Russian elite who were involved in sending troops into Crimea. They haven't made clear if they would seek broader sanctions on the Russian economy.
http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-us-ukraine-20140305,0,4752834.story#axzz2v4SFmiGP