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The international community is tightening its vice on Russia over its annexation of
Crimea. The United Nations, United States and the
International Monetary Fund are coming to aid of Ukraine, while lobbing fresh sanctions
toward Moscow. Kim Ji-yeon reports. The United Nations has
thrown its support behind Ukraine... and further isolated Russia from the international community
for its actions in Crimea. The General Assembly approved a non-binding
resolution that affirms Ukraine's territorial integrity... and called the referendum for
Crimea's secession... illegal. One-hundred member countries voted in favor
of the resolution,... with 11 voting against,... 58 abstaining, and 24 absent.
The United States is applying pressure to Russia while supporting Ukraine.
U.S. Congress is promoting bills that would provide 1-billion dollars in loan guarantees
to Ukraine and 150-million dollars in direct assistance.
The House of Representatives is expected to approve the legislation Friday in Washington,
which the Senate passed the day before with bipartisan support.
The legislation is known to include more senior Russian officials and corporations that will
be subject to asset freezes and travel bans. The U.S.-based Visa and MasterCard companies
halted transactions for Bank Rossiya after it was placed under the sanctions list.
In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed the need for Russia to develop its
own payment network.
Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund is rushing to help Ukraine.
The IMF approved a two-year loan of up to 18 billion U.S. dollars... for the nation,
which is on the verge of default. Analysts say Ukraine's state liability has
risen to nearly 13-billion dollars this year alone.
In return, Kiev promised to undertake economic and energy reforms.
Russia has cut off 15 billion dollars in aid to Ukraine since the ousting of former President
Viktor Yanukovich. A top Ukrainian defense official, Andriy Parubiy
said in a webcast from Kiev that nearly 100-thousand Russian forces are stationed on the eastern
borders of Ukraine near the cities of Kharkiv and Donetsk .
Kim Ji-yeon, Arirang News.