WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Toner explained that Washington already has severe sanctions in place against Moscow because of the Ukrainian crisis.
He stressed that the United States needs to weigh pressuring Russia’s economy with the ability for the two countries to work together in Syria.
"[That] is another valid option, one among many that we’re looking at," Toner told reporters when asked if Washington would put new sanctions against Russia over the situation in Syria.
On Wednesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said in phone talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that Washington would freeze US-Russian cooperation in Syria unless Moscow persuades Damascus to stop an offensive in Aleppo and reinstate a ceasefire.
In subsequent phone calls on Thursday and Friday, both Kerry and Lavrov stressed that they are ready for additional dialogue to resolve the Syria conflict.
