The United States hopes it will not have to tighten sanctions against Russia in an attempt to help resolve the conflict in Ukraine.

Axar.az reports citing TASS, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this.

"It should be clear to everyone that the United States has tools available to also impose costs on the Russian side of this equation, but we hope it doesn’t come to that. What we’re hoping is that both sides realize that this is not a conflict that can end by military means; it can only end by diplomatic means. And the President’s goal is to bring them both to the table to get this resolved. But it’s a reminder that we understand that the United States has tools at its disposal if in fact this falls apart, and - but we’re hoping it doesn’t. We really do. We hope it doesn’t reach that point," he said.