Washington: President Barack Obama says the United States is levying a new round of economic sanctions on individuals in Russia, both inside and outside the government, in retaliation for the Kremlin's actions in Ukraine.
Obama says he has also signed a new executive order that would allow the U.S. to sanction key sectors of the Russian economy.
The new penalties mark the second round of economic sanctions the U.S. has levied on Russia this week. The first round of penalties had little impact in stopping Moscow from annexing the strategically important Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine.
Meanwhile Russia announced it was introducing its own sanctions against US officials, minutes after Obama announced new sanctions against Russian officials over the Ukraine crisis.
"There should be no doubt: each hostile attack will be met in an adequate manner," the Russian foreign ministry said, saying it was targeting nine Obama aides and senators.
Moscow's blacklist includes Obama aides Caroline Atkinson, Daniel Pfeiffer and Benjamin Rhodes and senators Mary Landrieu, John McCain and Daniel Coats.
