(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Shington june 21 (qna) - the united states has imposed sanctions against several pro-russian separatist leaders in eastern ukraine as the crisis there shows no sign of easing.
the sanctions include asset freezes against seven pro-russian leaders.
the move was announced as western leaders threatened additional sanctions against russia which they accuse of stoking tension in ukraine.
both russian and the separatists have rejected a unilateral ceasefire called by ukrainian leader petro poroshenko amid discussion of a peace plan.
the us and european union (eu) leaders have previously imposed sanctions after russia annexed the ukrainian region of crimea in march.
on friday the us treasury department said it had blacklisted seven rebel leaders including self-proclaimed mayors governors and commanders in chief of cities under siege by ukrainian forces.
their assets in the us will be frozen and us firms will be banned from dealing with them.
us officials also said "scalpel" sanctions against russia's defence finance and high-tech industries were being considered.
us president barack obama had spoken separately to french president francois hollande and german chancellor angela merkel a white house statement said.
the leaders had agreed the us and eu would "co-ordinate additional steps to impose costs on russia" if moscow did not try to "de-escalate the situation in eastern ukraine" the statement added.
the us says russia is providing the separatists with military equipment including tanks and is building up troops on its border with ukraine.
moscow has denied sending tanks or backing pro-russian militants.
on friday mr poroshenko declared a week-long ceasefire to give rebels time to disarm.
he has also unveiled proposals for a peace plan involving decentralising power holding early elections and creating a 10km (six-mile) buffer zone on the ukrainian-russian border. (qna)
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