If you want to know why stocks jumped last night this is it. From the FT:
The EU and the US imposed sanctions on more than two dozen Russian and Ukrainian officials on Monday and readied more severe moves if Moscow continued to escalate the crisis in Ukraine after Sunday’s controversial vote by Crimea to secede.
Washington targeted seven top Russian policy makers including some of President Vladimir Putin’s closest advisers with asset freezes and travel bans, under an executive order signed by President Barack Obama. The EU took measures against 21 people, including 13 Russians.
Shortly before the sanctions were announced, however, Mr Putin signalled he might be prepared to negotiate a diplomatic deal over Ukraine’s future, possibly using Crimea as a bargaining chip.
Laying out Russia’s negotiating position for the first time, its foreign ministry published demands including military neutrality for Ukraine, a federal structure for the country giving more rights to its regions, and Russian to be made a second state language.
Action against 21 people!
