Possibility of New Anti-Russian Sanctions Increases - White House

White House Press Secretary said that the chances to impose new sanctions against Russia have increased amid continuing unrest in eastern Ukraine.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The chances to impose new sanctions against Russia have increased amid continuing unrest in eastern Ukraine, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said on Tuesday.

“As we see Russia continue to destabilize eastern Ukraine and continue to take steps that are clearly in violation of agreements that they have signed, the risk of further sanctions only increases,” Earnest told journalists during a press briefing.

Earnest explained that the United States will continue to watch closely and monitor the development of the situation in eastern Ukraine.

“Certainly, there is a potential of offering additional assistance to the Ukrainian military or ramping our sanctions regime against the Russians,” the press secretary said, adding that the United States, however, will continue try to resolve the eastern Ukrainian crisis diplomatically.

The United States and its allies have already imposed several rounds of economic sanctions targeting Russia's defense, energy and banking sectors, as well as certain individuals, over Moscow's alleged meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs.

Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement in the situation in Ukraine and has stressed that sanctions are counterproductive and hamper efforts to end the Ukrainian conflict.