FOREIGN POLICY/RUSSIA/TREASURY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/UKRAINE: “The Kremlin said Wednesday [6-21-7] that it was formulating ‘various options’ to respond to fresh U.S. sanctions over its military interventions in Ukraine.
‘As sanctions in the previous years have shown, the main principle of reaction to sanctions actions is the principle of reciprocity. It’s completely explicable and understandable,’ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. ‘Various options are being formulated and proposed at the expert level.’
The U.S. Department of the Treasury on Tuesday added Ukrainian and Russian individuals and companies to restrictions enacted following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and military interventions in eastern Ukraine in 2014.
Mr. Peskov also said there were currently no preparations under way for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, who has spoken of wanting warm ties with Moscow. Mr. Peskov said, however, that the presidents could meet on the sidelines of a summit of the Group of 20 leading economies in Germany next week. ‘There are no concrete agreements or preparations yet,’ he said.”
-James Marson, “Russia Considers Options as U.S. Steps Up Sanctions,” The Wall Street Journal online, June 21, 2017 05:58am