WASHINGTON, July 28 (RIA Novosti) — The United States and the European Union could impose new sanctions against Russia this week over the ongoing Ukrainian crisis, a US national security official said Monday.
«Precisely because we haven’t seen a strategic turn from Putin, we believe it’s absolutely essential to take additional measures and that what the US and European partners intend to do this week», Tony Blinken, a national security adviser to US President Barack Obama told reporters.
Blinken claimed that Russia had not halted alleged deliveries of weaponry to independence supporters in eastern Ukraine and must face tougher “costs.”
Moscow has vehemently dismissed accusations of interfering in Ukraine’s affairs saying that Russia is not a party in the inter-Ukrainian conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that before accusing Russia, one has to show real evidence.
Blinken again blamed Russia for being responsible for the July 17 crash of the Malaysian passenger plane in eastern Ukraine, although adding that it is still unknown who “pressed the button.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier Monday that the investigation into the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash in eastern Ukraine casts doubt upon US claims.
Lavrov said that Kiev has so far failed to provide the recorded conversations between Ukrainian air traffic control and MH17 flight. Media reports said earlier that the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) confiscated tapes of conversations between Ukrainian air traffic controllers and the crew of the plane.
A Ukrainian government source told RIA Novosti last week the SBU could hand over the MH17 recordings to US analysts in Kiev.
A Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur crashed near Donetsk on July 17. All 298 people on board, including 283 passengers and 15 crew members died.
Ukrainian authorities claim independence supporters shot down the plane, whereas the latter say they do not have necessary equipment to hit a target flying at that height.
