Russia threatens response if US sets new sanctions over Ukraine
Russia's deputy foreign minister promises 'a response' to news US senators have passed a bill calling for fresh sanctions on Moscow and the supply of weapons to Kiev
Russia responded angrily on Saturday to news US senators had passed a bill calling for fresh sanctions against Moscow and the supply of lethal military aid to Ukraine.
“Undoubtedly, we will not be able to leave this without a response,” deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov told Interfax news agency ahead of a meeting between the Russian and US foreign ministers.
The Senate bill – dubbed the Ukraine Freedom Support Act – must still be approved by the White House, which has so far been reluctant to provide direct military assistance to Ukraine for fear of being drawn into a proxy war with Russia.
Ryabkov blamed “anti-Russian moods” in the United States for the bill passed on Friday, which calls for additional sanctions against Russia and the delivery of up to US$350 million worth of US military hardware to Ukraine.
The eight-month conflict between government forces and pro-Russian separatists has left at least 4,634 dead and 10,243 wounded, while displacing more than 1.1 million people, according to new figures released by the United Nations.
It also threatens fresh sanctions against Russia, whose economy is crumbling under previous rounds of Western sanctions and a collapse in oil prices.