Canada announces sanctions against Russia

Also imposes sanctions against armed separatist groups in Ukraine

The Canadian Government has announced new economic sanctions and travel bans against Russian individuals and entities.

"The sanctions imposed are against a broad range of entities from Russia's financial and energy sectors, our aim is to increase economic and political pressure on the Putin regime," Xinhua quoted Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper as saying Thursday.

Harper said his government is also imposing sanctions on "the armed separatist groups known as the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic".

"These groups, with direct support from Russia, have engaged in outrageous acts against the armed forces of Ukraine, international monitors deployed in the area, and the civilian population," Harper added.

The sanction list include eight Ukrainians, who are allegedly linked to the two armed separatist groups.

Also targeted are several Russian entities, including Almaz-Antey, Federal State Unitary Enterprise State Research and Production Enterprise, Bazalt, Gazprombank OAO, JSC Concern Radio- Electronic Technologies, JSC Concern Sozvezdie, JSC MIC NPO Mashinostroyenia, Kalashnikov Concern, KBP Instrument Design Bureau, Novatek, and Vnesheconom bank.

"As we have seen with the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 last week, the Putin regime's failure to end its support to armed separatist groups constitutes a threat to international peace and security," Harper said.

After the Ukrainian crisis, the Canadian government has suspended almost all economic and military exchanges and imposed economic sanctions and travel ban against 100 Russians.