Ukraine says readying sanctions against Russia over rebel support

Ukraine’s western-backed government said
Wednesday that it was preparing to slap
sanctions on Russia for backing pro-Moscow
separatists in the ex-Soviet state.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk
said a special committee had been set up to
draw up a raft of economic sanctions against
any Russian individuals, officials or companies
accused of supporting rebels battling
government troops in the east of the country.
“Ukraine will introduce sanctions against every
individual with a Russian passport who
supports the terrorists and separatists in
Ukraine,” Yatsenyuk said.
The sanctions would also target those who
helped push through the Kremlin’s annexation
of Ukraine’s Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in
March, he said.
Ukraine’s threat of punitive economic
measures against its largest trading partner
comes with its economy teetering perilously
on the brink after Moscow cut off gas supplies
in June over a bitter price dispute.
The European Union — which signed a historic
trade and political pact with Kiev last month
— looks set to follow Washington’s lead by
announcing a new round of tougher sanctions
against Moscow on Thursday, following
international outrage over the downing of
Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in rebel-held
territory.