US in talks on possible Ukraine sanctions

(WASHINGTON) - The US administration is consulting with lawmakers about imposing possible sanctions on Ukraine, where the government is locked in a stand-off with street protesters, a US official said Thursday.

Secretary of State John Kerry also kept up the pressure on President Viktor Yanukovych, even though the Ukrainian leader took to his sick bed, holding a conference call with top opposition leaders.

Several US officials have warned Washington may impose sanctions if Kiev moves to use wide scale force to quell demonstrations by pro-European protesters.

The US has "revoked the visas of several Ukrainians implicated in violence against peaceful protestors," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said, without naming the individuals.

"We're willing to consider sanctions. No decision has been made," she stressed to reporters.

Given the concerns about the political crisis "we've had consultations, of course, with members of Congress, but it is not a reflection of a decision being made about a forward step."

In his talks with opposition leaders, Kerry "underscored the United States' unwavering support for the democratic European aspirations of the Ukrainian people and commended these opposition leaders for speaking out against violence," Psaki said.

Those included in the call were UDAR (Punch) party leader Vitali Klitschko, a former boxing champion and one of the figureheads of the opposition, and nationalist Svoboda (Freedom) party leader Oleg Tyagnybok.

Also on the call was pro-opposition tycoon, Petro Poroshenko, who has been floated as a possible new prime minister.

Kerry highlighted US concerns about human rights violations, such as disappearances and killings, and said Washington was pressing the Ukraine government to set up a justice commission to investigate such crimes.