Barack Obama, US President has ordered a ban on the export of goods, technology and services to Crimea.
The executive order also imposes new sanctions on Russian and Ukrainian individuals and companies.
“The executive order is intended to provide clarity to US corporations doing business in the region and reaffirm that the United States will not accept Russia’s occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea,” Obama said in a statement.
In addition to the goods, technology and services ban, US individuals or companies cannot now buy any real estate or businesses in Crimea or fund Crimean firms.
Obama said the move showed the US would never accept Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
Similar measures agreed by the European Union earlier this week came into effect on Saturday. Canada also announced its own sanction on Crimea on Friday.
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