US State Department Hopes Trump Would See Wisdom in Keeping Sanctions on Russia

The US Department of State hopes the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump will see the need to maintain sanctions on Russia, department spokesman John Kirby said in a briefing on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The department also warned Trump against "conducting business as usual with Russia given their continued activities."

"We would hope that they would see the wisdom in keeping these sanctions and this pressure on Russia because we have seen it have an effect," Kirby told reporters.

The spokesman noted, however, that the next administration will have to make its own decisions on how to proceed.

Russia has been targeted by several rounds of sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union and some of their allies in light of Crimea’s reunification with Russia in 2014 and due to Moscow's alleged involvement in the internal Ukrainian conflict.

Moscow has repeatedly refuted US and EU claims of Russian interference in Ukraine and called the imposition of sanctions a provocative move that can destabilize the region and the world.