EU sanctions additional 15 Russian officials with travel ban, asset freeze over Ukraine crisis

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A masked pro-Russian activist places a self-proclaimed \'Donetsk Republic\' flag over the office of a "Privatbank" bank, owned by a businessman who is considered to back the new pro-western government in Donetsk, Ukraine, Monday, April 28, 2014. Ukraine\'s acting government and the West have accused Russia of orchestrating the unrest, which they fear Moscow could use as a pretext for an invasion. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

BRUSSELS – Diplomats say the European Union has decided to add 15 more officials to its Russian sanctions list to protests Moscow’s meddling in Ukraine.

Three diplomats separately confirmed to The Associated Press that ambassadors of the EU’s 28 nations on Monday agreed to broaden the bloc’s travel ban and asset freeze sanctions. The diplomats spoke only on condition of anonymity pending an official announcement.

The decision still requires formal approval from the EU’s national governments but officials said that would be a formality and is expected to be completed within the coming hours.

The names of the individuals targeted weren’t immediately released but would be included in the official publication in the bloc’s legal journal early Tuesday.

The EU move comes after the U.S. decided to broaden its own sanctions.

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