US, EU Up Ante against Russia in Ukraine Crisis

The United States and European Union are hitting Russia with new sanctions Monday, saying it's not following through on commitments to calm down the crisis in Ukraine.

The White House also warned Russia that greater costs may be on the way if it doesn't stop provoking Ukraine.

On the final stop of his Asian tour at a news conference in the Philippines, President Barack Obama spoke out against Russia, announcing the new sanctions.

"We are going to be moving forward with an expanded list of individuals and companies that will be affected by sanctions. They remain targeted. We will also focus on some areas of high-tech, defense exports to Russia that we don't think are appropriate to be exporting in this kind of climate," Obama said.

The United States is canceling export licenses for high-technology items government leaders say could enhance Russia's military capabilities. The country is also sanctioning seven Russian government officials and 17 companies which have connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle.

Also, the EU is implementing visa bans and asset freezes on 15 people accused of fanning the flames of instability in eastern Ukraine.

"These sanctions represent the next stage in a calibrated effort to change Russia's behavior. We don't yet know whether it's going to work, and that's why the next phase, if in fact we saw further Russian aggression towards Ukraine, could be sectoral sanctions - less narrowly targeted - addressing sectors like banking or the defense industry," Obama said.

Some U.S. lawmakers are calling for tougher measures sooner rather than later.

"To me, hitting four of the largest banks there would send shockwaves into the economy," Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said. "And I think, again, these sanctions on individuals are not having the - it's not creating the kind of pain within Russia that will cause Putin to change his behavior."

Meanwhile, pro-Russia insurgents seized more government buildings in eastern Ukraine on Monday.

The activists also seized control of a TV station in the eastern city of Donetsk on Sunday and immediately set about switching off Ukrainian TV and replacing it with Russian channels that broadcast exclusively pro-Kremlin views.

In an escalation of violence the Jewish mayor of Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, was shot in the back this morning. He's now fighting for his life.

City officials have not commented on who is responsible, but the mayor could have upset both sides.