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                      US Preparing New Sanctions on Russia

   by VOA News

   The United States says it will look for any signs Russia is serious
   about de-escalating the tensions in Ukraine at Thursday's emergency
   talks on the crisis in Geneva.

   White House spokesman Jay Carney said the U.S. is prepared to impose
   new sanctions on Russia.

   In an interview Wednesday with CBS, President Barack Obama said there
   will be consequences each time Russia takes steps to destabilize
   Ukraine and violate its sovereignty. But Obama said he is convinced
   Russia is not looking for a war.

   Moscow has said it has the right to protect Russian speakers in
   Ukraine. It accuses the new Ukrainian leadership of being anti-Russian
   and anti-Semitic and of threatening the rights of pro-Russians.

   But senior U.N. human rights official Ivan Simonvic told the Security
   Council Wednesday that during two trips to Ukraine in March, his team
   found no widespread attacks against ethnic-Russians.

   Moscow called the U.N. report biased and unfounded.

   U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power dismissed the Russian criticism, saying
   there is substantial evidence of Russian involvement in the unrest in
   eastern Ukraine. She called it a well-orchestrated professional
   campaign of incitement and sabotage.

   Masked pro-Russians seized armored vehicles from the Ukrainian army
   Wednesday near Slovyansk. The Ukrainian troops did not resist. There
   are reports of some Ukrainian soldiers switching sides when confronted
   by the pro-Russians.

   Russian speakers have taken over Ukrainian government buildings in
   nearly a dozen eastern towns and cities. The Ukrainian army has
   launched what it calls an anti-terrorist operation to retake the
   buildings, but it is unclear how much fighting is actually taking
   place.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/us-preparing-new-sanctions-on-russia/
   1895179.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-preparing-new-sanctions-on-russia/1895179.html