In response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, the United States and its Western allies may introduce new sanctions soon, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday.
“Next week I am hopeful, when our NATO colleagues are in town, we will be able to announce another series of actions that we will jointly take together to push back against what Russia is doing there in Crimea and the Sea of Azov and the region,” Pompeo said at a House of Representatives hearing on March 27.
A meeting of NATO members is to be held in early April in Washington on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Alliance.
According to Pompeo, imposing additional restrictions aims at countering Russia’s actions in Crimea, the Azov Sea and in the entire region. The Secretary of State did not specify what measures could be taken.
On March 15, the European Union added eight Russian officials to the list of those subject to restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.
On November 25, three Ukrainian ships were captured by the Russian special forces when going from Odessa to Mariupol. The Russian side accused them of violating the state border and ‘dangerous maneuvering’ and sent military reinforcements to the scene of the incident, including combat helicopters.
Since the Ukrainian ships were not allowed into the Sea of Azov, they finally turned back to Odessa. But the Russians pursued the Ukrainians in neutral waters, demanded a halt, and eventually used lethal force. “Nikopol”, “Berdyansk” and “Yany Kapu” gunboats were captured and sent to Kerch. Russia took prisoner 24 people, 6 sailors were injured.
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