US promises to maintain sanctions against Russia until the crisis in Ukraine is resolved
The US White House once more reiterated that sanctions against Russia over its interference in Ukraine would be preserved until Moscow fully honors its obligations to resolve the crisis in Ukraine.
Until then, the United States is firmly committed to maintaining existing sanctions against Russia, said White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
"We believe that the existing executive-branch sanctions regime is the best tool for compelling Russia to fulfill its commitments," she said at a briefing.
Under the administration of President Donald Trump, Washington has repeatedly stated that the US sanctions imposed on Russia in 2014, which have been prolonged and strengthened several times since then, will be preserved while the reasons for them remain; that is, until Moscow fulfills its obligations under the Minsk Protocol to resolve the situation in the occupied part of the Donbas, for the main part of the sanctions, and for the de-occupation of Crimea, for the other part.
On the contrary, Trump repeatedly said during the 2016 election campaign that in case of victory, he would like to quickly restore relations with Russia, and, in particular, possibly lift sanctions and even recognize the "Russian status" of the Crimea. After his inauguration, he changed this position.
The United States and other G7 countries, as well as the European Union, have coordinated to impose sanctions on a number of individuals and entities from Russia, from the annexed Crimea and parts of the Donbas, as well as on several sectors of the Russian economy; their scope has from time to time been prolonged because of Moscow’s aggression against Ukraine in the Crimea and parts of the Donbas. At a recent summit in late May, the leaders of the G-7 countries also expressed their readiness to impose new sanctions on Russia if it continues to fail to fulfill its obligations in Ukraine under the Minsk accords.