President Barack Obama is imposing sanctions against Russian officials after Crimea's vote to secede from Ukraine. His executive order names seven Russian government officials. The Treasury Department also is imposing sanctions on four Ukrainians, including former President Viktor Yanukovych. The announcement came shortly after the European Union announced travel bans and an asset freeze on 21 people.
Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake had called for economic sanctions on Sunday TV talk shows. Flake told NBC’s "Meet the Press" on Sunday the Ukraine military is depleted.
“Their military has been hollowed out over the past couple of years,” Flake said. “According to some Ukrainians ‘we have nothing that shoots runs or flies.’”
Flake said that is because Russia had such close ties with the previous regime in Ukraine that they were able to hollow out the country’s military.