The United States has threatened with new sanctions against Russia

The United States may impose new sanctions against Russia in case of capture by militants of new territories in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. According to Reuters, this was stated by the official representative of the State Department John Kirby. He did not specify exactly what sanctions can be imposed.

"The separatists' attempts to occupy Ukrainian territory will be given an answer that will bring to new losses," Kirby said.

On June 17, the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States of the European Union approved the extension of economic sanctions against Russia until January 2016. It is expected that the EU foreign ministers at a meeting in Luxembourg on June 22 ratify a six -month extension of sanctions without discussion, based on the agreements reached in Brussels, representatives of 28 European Union countries.

From August 1, 2014, sectoral sanctions of the European Union came into effect. They were introduced because of Russia's actions in Ukraine for a period of one year.

Earlier it was assumed that the sanctions will be extended at the European Union summit on June 25-26. However, on Monday, The Wall Street Journal said that the decision can be made at the level of the heads of the Mids .

On June 13, it was reported that the United States and the EU prepared additional sanctions against Russia. According to American and European diplomats, measures will be taken "quite quickly" in case of exacerbation of the situation in Ukraine. We are talking about both the expansion of sanctions lists, and about sectoral measures regarding the financial, energy and defense sectors of Russia.

The discussion of additional sanctions began in connection with the offensive undertaken by pro -Russian forces in the Maryinki area . However, the battles ended before the decision was made to act. The resumption of battles will serve as a “trigger” for new sanctions.

“It can be any major offensive anywhere along the entire line of contact. We all know what we are talking about, and we want to have prepared plans that will be involved in the case when it becomes necessary,” said a senior official of the US administration. “There are a number of different options that the leaders will have at their disposal to answer any new Russian aggression quite quickly and energetically. Weeks ".