DHAKA: US president Barack Obama has announced further sanctions on Russian officials and a bank over the crisis in Crimea.

Obama said the US was watching with concern the situation in southern and eastern Ukraine, and he had signed an executive order enabling the US to impose economic sanctions on Russia.

Meanwhile EU leaders have arrived in Brussels to discuss the crisis.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the EU is ready to impose economic sanctions if there were any escalation, reports the BBC.

BDST: 2137 HRS, MAR 20, 2014