US, EU push for Russia sanctions over Ukraine

BRUSSELS (AP) — The United States and the European Union are preparing economic and diplomatic sanctions against Russia unless Moscow deescalates the crisis in Ukraine and pulls its troops on the Crimean peninsula back to its barracks.

The U.S. has already halted military and economic talks as it weighs further punitive measures. Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday in Kiev that Russia must pull back or “our partners will have absolutely no choice but to join us to continue to expand upon steps we have taken in recent days in order to isolate Russia politically, diplomatically and economically.”