US sanctions will not deter Russia: Ex- Pentagon chief

As the US considers implementing additional sanctions against Russia over the latter's recent moves in Ukraine's Crimea, former US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday that such measures will not deter Russia.

The US has been taking steps to impose sanctions on Russia for its military intervention of Crimea, although Russian President Vladimir Putin said his actions were an effort to protect millions of ethnic Russians in the region, Xinhua reported.

"Some of the sanctions that are being discussed and the actions being taken, whether it's limitations on visas or on travel or on potentially freezing assets of specific individuals, frankly I don 't believe are going to be any deterrent for Putin," Gates told host Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday.

The former defense secretary called for actions that would ensure delivery of gas to Europe without Russian involvement, as Russia supplies a large chunk of Europe's energy.