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Russia cancels talks with US
Russia cancels talks with US over tightening of sanctions
Story highlights
- The US recently announced an expansion of sanctions against Russian individuals and legal entities
- The previously planned meeting was between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Raybkov and Under Secretary of State Tom Shannon
Washington (CNN)Russia
has canceled a meeting between senior US and Russian officials that was
aimed at resolving problems in the relationship between the two
countries.
The
announcement comes after the US announced an expansion of sanctions
against Russian individuals and legal entities in response to the
ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
The
previously planned meeting between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister
Sergey Ryabkov and US Under Secretary of State Tom Shannon was due to
take place in St Petersburg.
"As
we know, in the next few days there were plans to continue the
bilateral consultations on the 'irritants' that we have accumulated in
our Russian-American relations, plans to find ways out of the extremely
difficult situation in which the American side wore the partnership and
cooperation with Russia down," a statement from the Russian Foreign
Ministry said.
"After yesterday's
decision on sanctions, the situation does not allow for a round of such a
dialogue, especially as there is no content for it, since Washington
didn't offer nor is offering now anything specific," the ministry said.
The
statement added that Washington's desire to seek common ground with
Russia sounds unconvincing, and warned there will be a response,
including "practical retaliatory measures."
The US tightened sanctions on Russia Tuesday in a bid to force the end of its occupation of Crimea.
Two
Russian government officials were among 38 people and entities who were
added to a list of sanctions targets. Their assets will now be frozen,
and they will be forbidden from doing business with US citizens and
companies, or raising financing in America.
The
Treasury Department said in a statement that the steps are consistent
with the US commitment to seek a diplomatic resolution to the crisis in
Ukraine. Sanctions would not be lifted until Russia leaves Crimea, it
added.
State Department
Spokesperson Heather Nauert said that the US regretted Russia's decision
to cancel the talks, adding that the package of sanctions issued
Tuesday only reinforced those already in place.
"Let's remember that these sanctions didn't just come out of nowhere.
Our targeted sanctions were imposed in response to Russia's ongoing
violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbor,
Ukraine, Nauert added.
"If the
Russians seek an end to these sanctions, they know very well the US
position: Our sanctions on Russia related Russia's ongoing aggression
against Ukraine will remain in place until Russia fully honors its
obligations under the Minsk Agreements. Our sanctions related to Crimea
will not be lifted until Russia ends its occupation of the peninsula,"
she said.
Nauert pointed questions to the Russian government to explain why the meeting was canceled.
"From
our perspective, and as Secretary Tillerson has made clear, there are
many issues to be discussed. We remain open to future discussions," she
said.
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