WASHINGTON, November 22 (Sputnik) – Washington and its allies remain in contact on further restrictive measures they want to impose on Russia, the US State Department has announced.
“We will increase the costs to Russia if it doesn’t take steps on its own,” Jeff Rathke, a spokesperson for the US State Department said at a press briefing Friday, adding that the United States is “actively discussing” the matter with its “European and international partners”.
“We have a broad understanding and similar point of view with our European partners with respect to steps Russia needs to take, and the ways in which the costs to Russia should increase if they fail to abide by the agreements,” Rathke stressed, adding that the United States and the European Union “remain on the same page” on the issue.
Rathke emphasized that the United States will continue to sanction Russia unless it changes its position with regard to Ukraine.
“There is a continuing ratcheting of the pressure, and raising of the costs,” Rathke said, adding that “that’s going to continue” until Russia changes course.
In October US Vice President Joe Biden stated that the United States and US President Barack Obama personally forced EU members to introduce sanctions against Russia.
The West has imposed several rounds of restrictive measures on Russia over its alleged involvement in the Ukrainian crisis, a claim Moscow has repeatedly denied.
Moscow has stressed that sanctions "threaten international peace and stability" and run counter to the principles of international law.
In a response to the imposed sanctions, Russia has introduced a ban on certain food imports from the European Union, the United States, Australia, Canada and Norway.
