U.S. Treasury Dept. imposes more Russian, Ukrainian sanctions

MOSCOW, July 30 (UPI) -- The Obama administration is imposing additional sanctions against Russian entities and individuals within the inner circle of ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday also levied additional sanctions on people working with Russia's defense sector The Hill reported.

"Our message is clear: We will continue to act to ensure the effectiveness of our sanctions, which will not be rolled back until the Minsk Agreements are fully implemented," said John E. Smith, the director of the Treasury office that issued the sanctions. "These actions underscore the Obama administration's effort to maintain pressure on Russia for violating international law and fueling the conflict in Ukraine."

The Minsk Protocol was signed in September 2014 in Belarus by representatives of Ukraine, Russia, the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic to halt the war in the eastern region of Ukraine. While the protocol implemented an immediate ceasefire, fighting has persisted between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainians.

The new sanctions targeted Oleksandr Yanukovych, a Ukrainian businessman from Donetsk, and son of the former president. Another businessman, Roman Rotenberg, the son of Russian businessman Boris Rotenberg and member of the Kontinental Hockey League executive board, was also sanctioned, Russia Today reported.

Fifteen people and entities that work in the arms or related sectors in Russia were targeted because they have circumvented existing sanctions.