President Obama met with the EU ambassadors on July 14 for the closed-door session pressing European officials to adopt tougher sanctions against Russia to deter Putin’s destabilizing actions in Ukraine, Bloomberg reports.
According to several US officials involved in the meeting, as quoted by Bloomberg, the Obama Administration could impose sanctions unilaterally if the EU leaders decide otherwise at the meeting in Brussels on July 16 (the July 16-18 summit where EU leaders are expected to name the new President of the European Commission, and replacements for EU Council President and EU Foreign Affairs Chief – Ed.).
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According to Bloomberg, the US’s sanctions focus on the financial institutions and the defense sector, and could be imposed this week. However, President Obama would like to have support from European allies so he will wait at least until the end of the EU meeting on July 16.
