NATO Chief Wants More Countries to Introduce Sanctions Against Russia

MOSCOW, December 1 (Sputnik) — More countries should join the United States, the European Union and their allies by imposing economic sanctions on Russia, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Monday.

"I believe that the economic sanctions, they are of great importance… I would like to see as many countries as possible to support the sanctions because it is important that it [Russia's alleged involvement into the Ukrainian crisis] has an effect, a consequence when it comes to violating international law," Stoltenberg told journalists at a news conference.

Over the past months, Washington, Brussels and a number of their allies have implemented several rounds of sanctions against the Russian economy, accusing Moscow of meddling in the Ukrainian internal crisis. The latest waves of sanctions particularly target Russia’s defense, energy and banking sectors.

Moscow has denied any involvement in the armed conflict in Ukraine and stated that the sanctions threaten international peace and stability.

Earlier, senior officials from the NATO member-state Turkey, including Minister of EU affairs Volkan Bozkir and ambassador to the Russian Federation Umit Yardim, said that the country would not impose sanctions against Russia, even if requested to by the United States or the European Union.