The Obama administration is discussing a new round of economic sanctions against Russia, including its vast energy sector, ahead of Friday’s European summit meeting, write Richard McGregor in Washington and Ed Crooks in New York.
The sanctions, according to industry executives, would require US energy companies to apply for licences for exporting technology to Russia, reports FTAdviser sistet title FastFT.
Washington would not grant licences for any technology export with more than 10 per cent US content, the executives said, adding that the rules would apply only to new projects.
The White House faces opposition to new sanctions from many European nations, as well as US business that fears it will suffer a competitive disadvantage if Washington takes unilateral action.
On Tuesday Mr Obama spoke with David Cameron, the British prime minister, and both agreed that Moscow should “stop the flow of weapons and militants across the border and to use its influence over separatist groups” to swing them behind a Ukrainian peace plan.
Mr Putin asked Russia’s parliament on Tuesday to cancel a mandate for sending troops to Ukraine, a symbolic gesture aimed at countering fears of a Russian invasion of its neighbour and staving off sanctions. But he also said renouncing his mandate for the use of military force in Ukraine did not mean Russia would ignore what was happening there.
View the full story on FT.com.
