Fresh US sanctions against Russia

Washington announced the new sanctions on Friday against Russia for its involvement in the Ukraine crisis.

The new measures further limit the access of six major Russian banks to US debt and equity markets, including Russia's largest by assets, Sberbank. The penalties prohibit persons in the US from providing equity or debt financing of longer than 30 days to the bank.

The sanctions also target five defense companies and five Russian energy firms, including Gazprom.

The move comes hours after the EU imposed new sanctions aimed at cutting off the flow of cash from European financial markets to top weapons and energy companies.

Brussels and Washington moved forward on the bans despite a fragile ceasefire between Ukraine and the pro-Russian separatists.

In response to the EU sanctions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that imposing the measures, "at the very same time" as a truce is taking hold, "means taking the path to disrupting the peace process."

In an interview with Russian television, Lavrov said Moscow will respond "quietly and appropriately and, first and foremost, to protect its own interests."

The armed conflict between Ukrainian and separatist forces has been raging since mid-April and has claimed over 3,000 lives, according to United Nations estimates.

hc/kms (AFP, Reuters, AP, dpa)