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OTTAWA — Canada is following the United States in once again stepping up the pressure on Moscow over the crisis in Ukraine.

Two Russian companies and nine individuals, including two billionaire friends of President Vladimir Putin, will face new sanctions, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Monday.

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The latest round of sanctions comes in response to Russia’s continued actions to destabilize the Ukrainian government, Harper said in a statement.

And he suggested that more economic sanctions could be on the way unless Putin follows through on an April 17 agreement that was designed to ease tensions in Ukraine.

“The illegal occupation of Ukraine continues and Russia’s military aggression persists,” Harper said. “That is why we are imposing sanctions against an additional nine individuals and two entities.”

Among the nine individuals facing sanctions are Boris Rotenberg and his older brother Arkady, the billionaire co-owners of SMP Bank and SGM Group, a major supplier of construction services to Russia’s gas giant Gazprom.