Obama signs Russia sanctions bill

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday signed into law a bill aiming for tougher sanctions on Russia, but ruled out additional steps at the moment.

The president said he had signed into law the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, but his administration has no intention to impose fresh sanctions against Russia under the law right now.

"Signing this legislation does not signal a change in the administration's sanctions policy, which we have carefully calibrated in accordance with developments on the ground and coordinated with our allies and partners," he said in a statement.

The Ukraine Freedom Support Act, which passed both chambers of Congress last week, authorizes the Obama administration to apply new sanctions against Russian defense and energy firms to punish Moscow's continuing involvement in the insurgency in eastern Ukraine.

It also allows Obama to provide military assistance worth 350 million dollars to Ukraine, with anti-tank and anti-armor weapons on the list.

Obama once again urged Russia to end its "occupation and attempted annexation" of Crimea, stop support to separatists in eastern Ukraine, and implement peace deals signed in September in the Belarusian capital city of Minsk.

"We remain prepared to roll back sanctions should Russia take the necessary steps," he added.

Washington and its European allies have slapped rounds of sanctions on Russia over what they termed Moscow's annexation of Crimea and unending involvement in unrest in Ukraine's east.

Obama had voiced his reluctance to take unilateral actions against Russia.