US Vice President Harris Threatens Russia With Strongest Sanctions Over Ukraine
Kamala Harris. Photo: Carlos Barria / Reuters
US Vice President Kamala Harris has threatened Russia with new, “strongest” sanctions, which have not yet been, because of the situation in Ukraine. RIA Novosti reports.
In an interview with CBS television, answering the question of whether there will be a “hot war in Europe” in the next few weeks, Harris said that Washington is informing Russia that it should not encroach on Ukraine's sovereignty.
We talk directly with Russia. We make it very clear that Russia should not encroach on the sovereignty of Ukraine, that we are defending its territorial integrity
Kamala Harris Vice President of the United States
At the same time, Harris stressed that the United States is coordinating its position with its allies.
Impact on Moscow
In addition to Harris, the former special representative of the State Department for Ukraine, Kurt Volcker, also spoke about such a method of influencing Moscow. According to him, the United States and Western countries should immediately impose new sanctions against Russia in order to force it to abandon its “extortionate demands” and make concessions.
The politician recalled that earlier Washington and its allies imposed restrictions on Moscow only after it did “something bad”, but this trend should change.
The trend should change – the West should impose new sanctions right now and agree to lift them only if Russia refuses to military escalation
Kurt Volcarex – Special Representative of the State Department for Ukraine
The American diplomat believes that this will help prevent “aggression” in Ukraine. However, he did not specify how the Russian side threatens Kiev.
Position of the European Union
On December 17, the leaders of 27 countries of the European Union unanimously decided to extend economic sanctions against Russia. The head of the EU Council Charles Michel said that the Kremlin will face serious consequences if Moscow “takes further military action against Ukraine.” In addition, the EU called on the Russian side to start implementing the Minsk agreements.
Individual sanctions against Ukrainian and Russian citizens on charges of undermining the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine are regularly extended by the EU for six months since March 2014.
The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed the opinion that sanctions “with major consequences” could force Moscow to respect the European Union on the issue of the situation around Ukraine, given that the Russian side wants to conduct a dialogue with the United States.
Who was against the sanctions?
At the same time, several leading countries of the European Union (EU) initially opposed the introduction of new sanctions against Russia due to the alleged future military escalation in Ukraine. This was reported by RIA Novosti with reference to the Bloomberg agency.
In particular, according to the agency, France and Germany did not support plans to introduce new anti-Russian restrictions. Paris and Berlin gave preference to negotiations with Moscow. Germany is interested in reducing tension in the region. In addition, the German authorities are aiming at the earliest possible reactivation of the Normandy format.
Berlin doubts more than Washington that Russia really wants to attack Ukraine
source in the German government
One of the members of the German government said that the foreign policy adviser to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Jens Pletner and the deputy head of the Russian presidential administration Dmitry Kozak had already agreed to hold a meeting in January. It is planned to discuss ways of de-escalation.
“Russia has never attacked first”
On December 25, information about a possible Russian attack on Ukraine and other countries was commented on by the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov. The politician called such accusations empty and groundless escalation of tension.
Russia was never the first to attack anyone
Dmitry Peskov Press Secretary of the President of Russia
Despite this, the likelihood of provocations to justify such statements exists, the spokesman said. He warned that attempts to resolve the Ukrainian crisis by force would have the most serious consequences. According to him, Moscow is making every possible effort to resolve the conflict in Donbass and remains committed to the Normandy format and the Minsk agreements.
