US Expects EU To Impose More Sanctions On Russia Over Ukraine - Special Envoy Volker

The United States expects the European Union to impose more sanctions on Russia over the current situation in Ukraine, US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker told reporters on Monday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th March, 2019) The United States expects the European Union to impose more sanctions on Russia over the current situation in Ukraine, US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker told reporters on Monday.

When asked whether Washington expects more sanctions from the European Union against Russia, Volker said, "Yes."

"Not only did the European Union do this on Friday, so did the United States and Canada. It was a concerted move by all of us to demonstrate that we are deeply concerned about Russia's continuing occupation and claimed annexation of Crimea, and also about the extension of that to include a claim to have unilateral control over the Kerch Strait and access to the Sea of Azov and ... the attack and arrest of the Ukrainian sailors," Volker said.

Volker said he expects the US and its allies to continue periodically imposing new sanctions if the situation does not change. He added that sanctions would be removed if Russia "restores" territory to Ukrainian control.

"But until then, I think you will see a continued push from the European Union, the United States and others to continue to ratchet up sanctions," he added.

On Friday, the United States, Canada and the European Union slapped new sanctions on Russia over the situation in Ukraine, particularly the Kerch Strait incident last November, during which Russia seized three Ukrainian vessels that illegally crossed the Russian maritime border and failed to heed a demand to stop.

The Crimean Peninsula was officially reintegrated into Russia on March 18, 2014 as a result of a referendum, in which the absolute majority of those who voted voiced their support for the move. While the international community refuses to recognize the legitimacy of the vote and has slammed the reunification as annexation, Moscow maintains that the referendum was held in accordance with international law and Crimea is now an integral part of Russia.

A number of Western countries, notably the United States, and the European Union have introduced sanctions against individuals involved in the so-called annexation of the peninsula and its governance, and whole sectors of the Russian economy. The sanctions include travel bans, asset freezes and restrictions on investment into the peninsula, among other things.