In response to continued unrest in Ukraine, US President Barack Obama has announced new sanctions against Russia that include—for the first time—operations of Russian state-owned energy firms. “On top of the sanctions we have already imposed, we are designating selected sectors of the Russian economy as eligible for sanctions,” he told reporters at the White House on July 16. “We are freezing the assets of several Russian defense companies. And we are blocking new financing of some of Russia’s most important banks and energy companies. “These sanctions are significant, but they are also targeted—designed to have the maximum impact on Russia while limiting any spillover effects on American companies or those of our allies,” Obama said. Targeted firms include oil producer Rosneft ; Gazprombank , which is affiliated with its leading state-owned natural gas firm; Novatek , the country’s biggest independent gas producer; and Vnesheconomicbank (VEB), which promotes […]