White House: U.S. and Russia Are Not in a New Cold War

The United States and Russia are not in a new Cold War, despite still-rising tensions over the situation in Ukraine, White House press secretary Jay Carney asserted Monday.

White House press secretary Jay Carney briefs reporters at the White House in Washington, Monday, April 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

“We are not in a Cold War because I think it's important to remember what the dynamics of the Cold War were,” Carney said in response to a question during his press briefing. “You had two superpowers. You had two economic blocs. You had two military blocs. There aren't two of any of those things today. Russia is not the Soviet Union. There is no Warsaw Pact. There is no Soviet economic bloc.”

Carney said that Obama would likely have a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday. Carney also confirmed that Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan was in Kiev over the weekend.

Carney repeatedly vowed there would be more costs for Russia if its aggression toward Ukraine continues. The U.S. is considering stiffer economic sanctions against Russia.

Over the weekend, a Russian fighter jet flew directly over a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Black Sea. Carney called this “provocative and unprofessional.”

“The United States is working with partners and allies from around the world and especially in Europe, including partners and allies that are nations that used to fall within the Soviet bloc,” Carney said. “In pursuit of the simple proposition that a nation's territorial and sovereign integrity have to be respected and should not be violated, and should violations occur, should.”

“There's no question the current relationship we have with Russia has been strained by the actions, the provocative behavior of Russia in Ukraine,” Carney said. “But we as an administration and as a country pursue a relationship with Russia that is very clear-eyed, which is as we're doing today and we've been doing for some time, makes clear that we have profound disagreements with Russia and if necessary we impose costs.”