U.S. Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland on May 6 threatened Russian with more restrictive measures in case of a failure of the presidential elections in Ukraine. "If Russia destabilizes the forthcoming elections in Ukraine, if Russian military men cross the border, new sanctions will be introduced," she said at a transatlantic symposium on the common security and defense policy of the EU, held in Washington.
Nuland did not rule out sanctions against certain sectors of the Russian economy.
“Strengthening sanctions against the sectors [of the Russian economy] is an absolutely necessary step, it is a powerful instrument and, as you know, the sanctions are already influencing the Russian economy,” she said.
However, Nuland stressed the readiness of the United States for diplomacy.
“We leave possibilities for diplomacy open. Despite the fact we have increased the price for Russia for its actions, we must support the proposal [to resolve the crisis in Ukraine diplomatically], she added.
