Shannon-Ryabkov Talks Cancellation 'Logical' Step by Moscow, Russian MP Says

Kremlin’s decision to call off a meeting between US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov can be considered a reasonable response to Washington’s expanding sanctions against Moscow, Russian lawmaker Georgy Karlov told Sputnik.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earlier on Wednesday, Russia announced it had canceled the Ryabkov-Shannon consultations scheduled to take place in St. Petersburg on June 23 after the United States expanded anti-Russian sanctions on Tuesday.

"I think, the cancellation of the officials' meeting is it a logical response from one country to any offensive action, because any restriction has a negative connotation," Karlov said at the Arctic Circle Forum in Washington, DC on Wednesday. "Moreover, we know that these restrictive measures apply to specific individuals and entities."

The State Department emphasized in a statement that Washington was disappointed over the action taken by Moscow, and noted the United States remained open to future discussions with the Russian government.

On June 20, the US Department of the Treasury introduced sanctions against 38 individuals and entities over their alleged involvement in the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Russia has consistently denied the allegations of meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs and pointed out that the policy of sanctions is counterproductive as well a can destabilize the region and the world.