US threats of further sanctions unacceptable: Russia

Russia has denounced as “absolutely unacceptable” Washington’s threats of imposing further sanctions on Moscow in case of a possible failure in a recent agreement to ease tensions in Ukraine.

“Our Western colleagues are trying to push responsibility (for implementing the deal) towards our side. But it must be underlined: it is a collective responsibility,” said Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, in an interview with Rossiya-1 television on Friday.

The remarks came after White House National Security Advisor Susan Rice said Russia would face the consequences of tougher sanctions if it failed to make good on its commitments made under the new international deal on Ukraine or went ahead to send its troops into the eastern part of the country.

On April 17, Kiev’s interim government together with the United States, Russia and the European Union reached a deal calling for all sides to “de-escalate” the ongoing crisis in eastern Ukraine, where anti-Kiev protesters have seized buildings in several towns and cities.

The US and EU have already imposed asset freezes and visa bans on a number of top Russian and Ukrainian officials.

Tensions between the Western powers and Moscow heightened after Crimea declared independence from Ukraine and formally applied to become part of the Russian Federation following a referendum on March 16.

Pro-Russian protesters currently continue to occupy government, police and other administrative buildings in nearly 10 cities close to the Russian border. They have been demanding local referendums on either independence or integration into Russia.