Ukrainian president calls for tightening anti-Russian sanctions

WASHINGTON, Mar 31 (PRIME) -- Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko called for tightening sanctions against Russia late on Wednesday.

“In the current situation, the sanctions should be tightened,” he said.

“Without restoration of the Ukrainian sovereignty and without Russia’s new attitude to peace in the world sanctions should remain in force,” Poroshenko said.

In 2014, relations between Russia and the West deteriorated to their worse since the Cold War due to a military conflict in Ukraine. The West introduced sanctions against some Russian individuals and firms and further against the energy and banking sectors. In response, Russia limited food imports from some countries, including the U.S., the E.U., Canada, Australia, and Norway.

In mid-2015, the mutual sanctions were prolonged for one year.

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