Seoul, South Korea (BBN)-President Barack Obama says the United States and European leaders are laying the groundwork for sanctions against sectors of Russia’s economy if Moscow launches a military incursion into Ukraine, reports The Washington Post.
He says he will call key European leaders on Friday evening to discuss what’s happened since a deal was reached last week to de-escalate the crisis.
As the government in Kiev mobilizes against pro-Russian militants, killing up to 5, crisis continues to escalate.
He’s suggesting it would require a Russian military incursion into eastern Ukraine to trigger so-called sectoral sanctions against broad parts of Russia’s economy, such as the energy sector.
So far, the US has slapped sanctions on individuals but hasn’t targeted economic sectors.
Obama spoke in South Korea during a trip to Asia.
BBN/ANS/AD/25Apr14-5:20pm