US Secretary of State: Sanctions against Russia may be strengthened, but later

Washington is deliberately not imposing new sanctions against Russia so as not to lose the opportunity to act as a mediator in potential peace talks.

This was stated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Sky News reports.

Rubio said tightening restrictions could complicate diplomatic efforts, but he did not rule out that tougher measures could be introduced in the future.

Separately, Rubio criticized a number of European countries that still buy Russian energy. He called such behavior “absurd” and emphasized that allies in Europe should be more actively involved in putting economic pressure on Russia.

“Some countries are calling on the US to impose tougher sanctions, but at the same time are not making sufficient efforts themselves,” the Secretary of State noted.

As a reminder, US President Donald Trump has set conditions for the European Union that diplomats consider to be deliberately unfeasible, in order not to impose tough sanctions against Russia himself.

As reported, US lawmakers have prepared an initiative that would increase sanctions pressure on Russian oil tankers and other energy projects . The law aims to narrow Moscow’s ways of financing the war and tighten restrictions on Russia’s defense industry.

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