U.S. blacklists 37 individuals, entities over conflict in Ukraine

The United States on Thursday slapped additional sanctions on 37 individuals and entities in relation to the conflict in Ukraine.

The fresh sanctions target 18 construction, transportation, and defense entities that the U.S. accused of operating in the Crimea region, which was incorporated into Russia in 2014, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement.

Also blacklisted are 17 Ukrainian "separatists" , 11 of them officials of the "so-called Republic of Crimea," according to the statement.

The action is part of the U.S. efforts to "counter attempts to circumvent sanctions on Russia, to assist the private sector with sanctions compliance, and to foster a diplomatic resolution to the conflict in Ukraine," it said.

Since 2014, the United States, the EU and some of their allies have imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia for the country's role in the Ukraine crisis.

"Russia continues to provoke instability in eastern Ukraine despite its Minsk commitments," said John Smith, acting director of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

"We will continue to sanction those who threaten Ukraine' s peace, security, and sovereignty," Smith said.

Meanwhile, for the Russian side, Moscow has extended the food embargo on western countries. The sanctions will be in effect through December 31, 2017.

The extension of the sanctions by Moscow was a reprisal for the actions of the West. Endit