Report: Rutte: EU does not mull scaling up sanctions against Moscow

DAVOS, Jan 23 (PRIME) -- Scaling up of sanctions against Russia is not in the agenda of the E.U. but the sanctions must be continued, Netherlands’ Prime Minister Mark Rutte told Euronews in an interview Friday.

The Dutch authorities are investigating the reasons of crash of a Malaysia Airlines’ plane above the pro-Russia rebel occupied eastern zones of Ukraine last July. The character of damage to the plane was identified as “impact of multiple high-energy objects”, but it is still unclear who is to blame for the event.

“The sanctions have not been put in place because of MH17, they have been put in place because of Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. And the situation has only deteriorated, and even today, it seems – it is not officially confirmed – it seems even today that the Russians are upping their game in Eastern Ukraine, so I believe the sanctions should stay in place,” Rutte said.

Rutte declined to comment on the results of the plane crash investigation. “The Netherlands has been asked by the world to lead an independent investigation, and I expect results in the course of this year and that means that I cannot at all assume who might be behind this, who has done this. I know there are many theories around, but I really have to be silent on this.”

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