WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The chances to impose new sanctions against Russia have increased amid continuing unrest in eastern Ukraine, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said on Tuesday.
“As we see Russia continue to destabilize eastern Ukraine and continue to take steps that are clearly in violation of agreements that they have signed, the risk of further sanctions only increases,” Earnest told journalists during a press briefing.
Earnest explained that the United States will continue to watch closely and monitor the development of the situation in eastern Ukraine.
The United States and its allies have already imposed several rounds of economic sanctions targeting Russia's defense, energy and banking sectors, as well as certain individuals, over Moscow's alleged meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs.
Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement in the situation in Ukraine and has stressed that sanctions are counterproductive and hamper efforts to end the Ukrainian conflict.