Obama to consult European leaders Friday on Russia sanctions

SEOUL - US President Barack Obama said he would consult key European leaders later Friday on the failed agreement to ease tensions in Ukraine and on imposing new sanctions against Russia.

Obama said in Seoul that he wanted to coordinate a united approach with Western US allies, after Washington concluded that Russia had done nothing to implement the deal reached in Geneva.

"I will be talking to the Europeans, not all of them, but some key European leaders again this evening, making sure they share my assesement in terms of what has happened since the Geneva talks," Obama told a press conference.

The president said Washington had already lined up further targeted sanctions against Russia "that are ready to go".

AFP