US threatens Russia with fresh wave of sanctions

Russia could face new economic sanctions, but such a move might prolong the conflict by two more years, according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

During an appearance on NBC, Rubio admitted that negotiating a peace deal between the two warring nations is “complicated,” especially after Donald Trump recently suggested that Vladimir Putin may not actually be seeking peace.

“The minute you start doing that kind of stuff, you're walking away from it — you've now doomed yourself to another two years of war, and we don't want to see that happen,” Rubio said.

However, Rubio did not rule out a diplomatic resolution, despite the stark differences in each country's proposed conditions for peace.

“There is no other country, no other institution or organization on Earth that can bring these two sides together. No one else is talking to both sides but us, and no one else in the world can make something like this happen but the president,” he added.

The Secretary of State also warned that Washington might step back from its role as mediator if no concrete progress is made soon.

(QG - Source: Newsweek — Picture : © Unsplash)