US to Impose New Sanctions Against Russia Tomorrow

The United States will impose a new round of sanctions on Russia on Friday, joining the European Union in ramping up pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin over the Russian presence in Ukraine.

President Obama said the broadened sanctions will target Russia's financial, energy, and defense sectors, Censor.NET reports citing USA Today.

"These measures will increase Russia's political isolation as well as the economic costs to Russia, especially in areas of importance to President Putin and those close to him," Obama said in a statement released by the White House Press Office. "As I said last week, if Russia fully implements its commitments, these sanctions can be rolled back. If, instead, Russia continues its aggressive actions and violations of international law, the costs will continue to rise."

Details will be announced Friday. The timing of the announcement seems to be coordinated with sanctions to be imposed by the Europeans Friday, when the specific targets are published in an official journal by the European Union in Brussels.

The increased sanctions come despite a cease-fire agreement that Ukrainian leaders and pro-Russia separatists struck last week in Minsk. Obama said the administration has not yet seen "conclusive evidence that Russia has ceased its efforts to destabilize Ukraine."