Lukashevich: an extension of sanctions is rending the air

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said that the Obama administration has again issued threats announcing the extension of the old sanctions and the possibility of introducing new ones. 

"We have noticed a remarkable fact. As soon as signs of a peaceful settlement of the severe Ukrainian crisis appear, Washington, which had a hand in last year’s coup in Kiev, starts to exacerbate the situation. So this time, when the ceasefire regime agreed upon in Minsk on February 12 with assistance of Russian President Vladimir Putin is being implemented, Barack Obama's administration is again issuing threats, announcing the extension of the previously imposed sanctions and promising new ones - both against our country and against the DPR and LPR," TASS cited him as saying.

"What is this, if not an attempt to destroy the tenuous budding of trust between them and Ukrainian authorities, to undermine or even derail the peace process?" Lukashevich noted. "The same applies to promises of mass American weapons supplies to Ukraine, indulging revanchist plans of Kiev’s 'party of war'." 

"We would really appreciate if the US would finally start thinking about the consequences of its decisions and actions. Moreover, no sanctions will change Russia’s principled position," the diplomat said. "It is high time for Washington to realise this."