US Department of State Deputy Director of Policy Planning David Tessler has urged the EU to maintain its sanctions against Russia, Sputnik International reports, referring to the Financial Times.
"We feel very strongly that sanctions need to remain in place until we see the behavioral change we are looking for from the Russian government," Tessler was quoted by the newspaper as saying.
His remarks came after Matteo Salvini, the Italian Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, described Brussels' anti-Russian sanctions as "social, cultural and economic madness."