Obama expands sanctions against top aides, associates of Putin over annexation of Crimea --- President Obama expanded sanctions against top aides and reputed financial associates of Russian President Vladi­mir Putin on Thursday as punishment for the annexation of Crimea, and laid the groundwork for far broader measures against “key sectors of the Russian economy” if Putin further escalates his actions in Ukraine. -- The broad measures potentially include Russia’s financial services, energy, mining, engineering and defense sectors, according to language in what was Obama’s third executive order in two weeks. If implemented, he acknowledged, they would not only significantly affect the Russian economy, “they could also be disruptive to the global economy.” -- But “Russia must know that further escalation will only isolate it further from the international community,” Obama said in a brief statement on the White House South Lawn. -- For now, the measures target Putin’s inner circle and stop well short of the kind of sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy. Those would be triggered only by a wider military incursion, and Russian troops remain massed on Ukraine’s eastern and southern borders. And although Putin has said Russia has no further territorial designs on Ukraine, he has proved indifferent to Western threats. -- Russia promptly retaliated by banning nine U.S. lawmakers and officials from entering the country. The list includes Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and three top Obama aides, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. - More, Karen DeYoung and Will Englund, - Washingtonpost, at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/obama-expands-sanctions-against-top-aides-associates-of-putin-over-annexation-of-crimea/2014/03/20/ad5166f8-b04d-11e3-a49e-76adc9210f19_story.html?hpid=z2