More U.S. Sanctions, Crimea Closer To Accession
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President Barack Obama announced Thursday a new set of sanctions against Russian banks and officials in response the accession of Crimea. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the treaty officially adding Crimea to Russia on Tuesday, and Russia’s lower parliament ratified the treaty early Thursday. 
Vladimir Putin with Vladimir Konstantinov, Sergei Aksyonov and Alexei Chaly (Image via @KremlinRussia_E)
SEE ALSO: Crimea To Become Part Of Russia With Treaty
Russia retaliated by immediately banning nine top U.S. lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid, House Speaker John Boehner, and Senator John McCain. The accession treaty is scheduled to be passed by the upper house of Russian parliament on Friday, which will complete the process of legally adding Crimea to Russia’s map. In Crimea, military bases are now under the Russian flag, and the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said it will withdraw all remaining troops and officials.
SEE ALSO: Forces Storm Ukraine Base In Sevastopol
In response to his ban from Russia, Sen. McCain said, “I guess this means my spring break in Siberia is off, my Gazprom stock is lost, and my secret bank account in Moscow is frozen,” but that he would work to uphold the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, nonetheless.
SEE ALSO: Ukraine Crisis Timeline: How It Unfolded
Read more at The Washington Post.
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