A+ A-

Russia expresses "regrets" over new US sanctions

MOSCOW, June 20 (KUNA) -- Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed Tuesday his "regrets" over new US sanctions imposed against his country.
The new US sanctions do not contribute in smoothing out the strained situations between the two countries ahead of their forthcoming summit, Lavrov said in a joint press conference with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian.
Using the Ukrainian crisis as an excuse to impose further sanctions against Russia is a very "regrettable" matter, he said, stressing the importance of reviewing the Minsk Protocol.
On Syrian crisis, the Russian minister urged all warring parties not to slide into chaos, noting that if an agreement reached on establishing zones of reduction of tensions in the country, Syria would see a real chapter between moderate opposition and terrorist groups.
For his part, Le Drian affirmed that his country and Russia affirming their determination to continue battling the so-called Islamic State (IS), respecting Syria's sovereignty and unity of its territories, and working jointly to deliver humanitarian aid inside Syria.
On June 14, the US Senate voted 97 to 2 for new sanctions against Russia for meddling in the 2016 US election, requiring President Donald Trump to get congressional approval before easing any existing Russia sanctions.
The vote was part of an amendment to an Iran sanctions' bill, which aims at punishing Russia over such issues as meddling in the US election, annexing Ukraine's Crimea region and supporting the government of Syria in its civil war.
The measure sets up a process for Congress to review sanctions' changes, implement presidential executive orders and impose new sanctions on Russians found guilty of human rights abuses or conducting cyber attacks. (end) as.ma