Obama Says U.S. to Join EU in Tightening Russia Sanctions

The U.S. joined the European Union in stiffening sanctions on Russia over Ukraine, as the 28-member bloc offered to ease the restrictions once the Kremlin makes a good-faith effort to end the conflict.

The U.S. will “deepen and broaden” measures against Russia’s financial, energy, and defense industries, President Barack Obama said in a statement today, adding that the sanctions will take effect tomorrow and details will be released then. The EU said it would also enact its latest round of economic restrictions tomorrow. Europe is acting against a peaceful solution in Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.