WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — In March 2014, the European Union targeted at least a dozen Russian officials, including Kiselev, for sanctions related to alleged Russian actions in Ukraine. At the time, Kiselyov argued that imposing sanctions on journalists was "an attack against the media freedom."
"We do, as a government, have trouble going after news presenters… It is difficult for us to do so, we thought about it," Fried stated when asked why the United States had not imposed sanctions on Kiselev like the European Union had done.
Russia has repeatedly refuted Western allegations about it alleged role in Ukraine.
Further questioned whether Kiselyov could be sanctioned in the United States under the Magnitsky Act, which has targeted individuals related to the death of Russian legal consultant Sergei Magnitsky, Fried said "it doesn't fit" the terms of the Act.
Commenting on Fried's statement, Kiselyov told Sputnik that, when it comes to sanctions, US officials act in a more delicate manner than their European counterparts.
"Americans are more delicate than Europeans," Kiselyov said. "By introducing the sanctions, the EU officials have decided to show they are holier-than-thou."
As a result of the sanctions on Kiselyov, Poland and Latvia have put strict limitations on Sputnik News operating within the countries.
The US government is not allowed to infringe on the freedom of the press by the First Amendment to the Constitution.