U.S. and the EU may introduce new restrictive measures against Russia this week over the situation in Ukraine, Tony Blinken, a deputy national security advisor told a news briefing on Monday, ITAR-TASS reported.
He said Washington's decision proceeded from the fact the U.S. officials had not noticed any strategic changes in Moscow's position. Washington expected that European leaders would take additional steps against Russia later this week.
In the meantime, White House spokesman Josh Earnest refrained from going into details on whatever punitive measures and a precise date on which they could be announced. He said however the U.S. was prepared to introduce new sanctions against Russia for destabilization in Ukraine but he claimed it would be strategically wrong to disclose the sanctions now.
The press service of the Elysees Palace said earlier the leaders of France, the U.S., Britain, Germany, and Italy were speaking in favor of new restrictive measures against Russia.