Victoria Nuland: EU and US prepare sectoral sanctions against Russia

Sanctions against Russia can be imposed if the ceasefire in Ukraine is violated.

The statement was made by US assistant secretary of state for European affairs, Reuters reports.

According to her, reports about heavy shelling and fighting around Donetsk and Mariupol cannot but raise concerns.

“Our sanctions team is in Europe this week. Equally important is to be in line with Europe on the additional sanctions that will be imposed if Minsk is further violated or if there is a further land grab,” Nuland said.

She added that there had been more than 100 violations of the truce since the Minsk agreements had been signed in the middle of February.

The Normandy Four had talks in Minsk on February 12 over the situation in Donbas. The Declaration of the presidents of Ukraine, France, Russia and German Chancellor was adopted in support of the Package of Measures to Implement the Minsk agreements. Many experts say the agreements were unfavourable for Ukraine and call them the “capitulation of Europe”.

Ukraine and international organisations have repeatedly said that militants of the DNR and LNR violate the ceasefire.