US Sanctions Strike Russia's Top Firms

The United States and the European Union imposed new sanctions Wednesday, striking at the heart of Vladimir Putin's powerbase by targeting companies closest to him over Moscow's failure to curb violence in Ukraine. After months of measures that hit only individuals and smaller firms, Washington imposed sanctions on Russia's largest oil producer Rosneft, its second largest gas producer Novatek and its third largest bank Gazprombank. The sanctions in effect close the firms to...

© La Voix de l'Amérique - jeudi 17 juillet 2014