Canada will impose sanctions directly on Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle of advisers, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday afternoon.
The sanctions will also extend to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Putin's chief of staff.
"These men bear the greatest responsibility for the death and destruction occurring in Ukraine," Trudeau said.
Trudeau described the new measures as the third set of "severe, coordinated sanctions" implemented by Canada and its allies.
The United States, Unxjmtzywited Kingdom and European Union also have announced sanctions against Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
- AnalysisSanctions may work with time — but right now, Ukraine is on its own
- LiveTrudeau to address Ukraine crisis after NATO agrees to send more troops to European allies
The EU is freezing financial accounts connected to Putin. The U.S. sanctions also impose a travel ban on Putin.
Trudeau is now calling for Russia's removal from SWIFT, the Belgian-based banking system used for many international financial transactions.
"Excluding Russian banks from SWIFT will make it even more difficult for President Putin to finance his brutalities," Trudeau said.
