Lavrov: New US sanctions on Russia 'threaten whole relationship'

Russia’s foreign minister says new sanctions imposed by the United States will lead to further deteriorating relations between the two countries.

A Russian Foreign Ministry statement says Sergei Lavrov conveyed the message in a phone call to his U-S counterpart Rex Tillerson. Lavrov said the punitive measures put the QUOTE entire sphere of Russian-American relations at serious risk. Earlier this week Washington announced fresh sanctions on 38 Russian individuals and firms over alleged Russian activities in Ukraine.