The United States and European Union are close to agreeing new sanctions against Russia over the Kerch strait incident.
The measures are expected to be discussed at a meeting of EU foreign ministers next Monday and could be levied over the next two months, according to diplomats briefed on the discussions, The Financial Times reported.
“This is waiting in the wings,” said one of the diplomats, citing internal documents, adding that they expected the sanctions to be tabled by the end of March.
On November 25, three ships of the Ukrainian Navy crossed the Russian border, entered Russian territorial waters that were temporarily closed, and began moving toward the Kerch Strait, which serves as the entrance into the Sea of Azov. The Ukrainian vessels and their crew were detained by Russia after failing to respond to a lawful demand to stop.
