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EU to target 130 Russians over Ukraine crisis

 
Russian servicemen walk outside a Ukrainian military base in Perevalnoye
Nicholas Cecil, Political Editor @nicholascecil|Will Stewart
14 March 2014

Russia was today warned that around 130 senior figures, including politicians and military chiefs, face travel bans and asset freezes if it does not pull back from intervening in Ukraine.

Details of the list being targeted by EU restrictions emerged as America and Russia held crisis talks in London after more violence erupted in Ukraine. US Secretary of State John Kerry met Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in an attempt to defuse soaring tensions ahead of Sunday’s referendum in Crimea on splitting from Ukraine. The crisis pushed world stocks to their lowest level in more than a month.

Foreign Secretary William Hague warned that it would be “formidably difficult” to make progress, given Russia’s stance so far, on dealing with the “tense and dangerous” situation.

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He said that the EU was ready to impose sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes. EU foreign ministers are to meet in Brussels on Monday to discuss imposing the measures. Mr Lavrov arrived at 10.20am, in a convoy of black and silver cars with police escorts, at the US Ambassador’s residence in Regent’s Park for the talks.

“This is a difficult situation we are in. Many events have happened and a lot of time has been lost so now we have to say what can be done,” he said.

But Russian forces continued to arrive in Crimea, according to reports, with a warship unloading trucks, troops and at least one armoured personnel carrier at a bay near Sevastopol today.

Thousands of Russian troops were also massing near the Ukranian mainland border, prompting fears among senior Kiev politicians of a possible invasion “at any moment”.

Overnight, several people were reportedly killed and 17 wounded in clashes in Donetsk, in the mainly Russian-speaking east of the country. Reports claimed there was “butchery” after a pro-Ukrainian rally was attacked by pro-Russian activists. Russia has said it reserves the right to intervene in defence of ethnic Russians.