23 Mar 2014

NZ announces Crimea travel sanctions

6:13 pm on 23 March 2014

The Government will ban some Russians and Ukranians from visiting New Zealand in what it describes as a modest sanction.

Murray McCully.

Murray McCully. Photo: AFP

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says the ban will be against selected individuals deemed to be responsible for the crisis in Ukraine.

Mr McCully says it brings the Government into line with actions taken by other members of the international community who have condemned the breach of Ukraine's sovereignty.

"Well we've put in place what is largely a symbolic process of sanctions, it involves a list at this stage of around of 20 figures that the international community hold responsible for aggressive actions in the Crimea in the last couple of weeks."

Mr McCully says it brings the Government into line with actions taken by the members of the international community who have condemned the breach of Ukraine's sovereignty.

He says he hopes the modest sanctions recognise the seriousness of the situation while still leaving room for further diplomatic work.

Prime Minister John Key has already said that free trade negotiations with Russia, that were nearing completion, are on hold for the meantime.