** update 

  I welcome the EU countries' agreement on new sanctions against Russia.

   Russia has manufactured this crisis and is responsible for the current escalation.We will now quickly finalise the sanctions package, in coordination with our partners.It's a clear response to the Kremlin's violations of international law

.• The sanctions target the individuals, companies and banks involved.

• We ban trade between the two breakaway regions and the EU

.• We limit Russia's ability to raise capital on the

  " First, this package includes financial sanctions, targeting 70% of the Russian banking market and key state owned companies, including in defence.Second, we target the energy sector, a key economic area which especially benefits the Russian state. Our export ban will hit the oil sector by making it impossible for Russia to upgrade its refineries.Third, we ban the sale of aircrafts and equipment to Russian airlines.Fourth, we are limiting Russia's access to crucial technology, such as semiconductors or cutting-edge software.Finally: visas. Diplomats and related groups and business people will no longer have privileged access to the European Union.
      These events mark the beginning of a new era. Putin is trying to subjugate a friendly European country. He is trying to redraw the map of Europe by force. He must and he will fail.   "