Russian Foreign Ministry Brands New EU Sanctions Irresponsible

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RIA Novosti, PUBLISHED 13.05.2014

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has accused the European Union of pursuing a “feckless, irresponsible” policy towards Russia after Brussels piled more sanctions on Moscow.

“We are sorry to see the sanctions express steaming downhill as if the driver wasn’t there. I mean their [EU’s] policy is absolutely feckless, irresponsible and out of touch with reality,” the Russian minister said referring to the EU’s recent decision to extend its sanctions list.

On Monday, EU foreign ministers agreed at a meeting to add two Crimean companies and 13 individuals to the sanctions list over the escalating situation in Ukraine.

“Instead of working to actually improve the situation [in Ukraine], de-escalate it, disarm the Right Sector and initiate a direct dialog between the authority in Kiev and the regions, our EU colleagues are pursuing a one-sided, one-dimension, unvarying policy that is not worthy of the European Union,” Ryabkov told reporters at a Vienna airport ahead of the Iran nuclear talks.

The new addition, published the EU official journal, includes Russia’s First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration Vyacheslav Volodin, Commander of the Russian Airborne Troops Vladimir Shamanov, Chair of the Russian State Duma Constitutional Law Committee Vladimir Shamanov, as well as Oleh Tsarev, a Ukrainian pro-federalization lawmaker.

The document also lists two Crimean companies — PJSC Chernomorneftegaz and Feodosia — whose assets were transferred to Crimean authorities after reunification with Russia.

Since March, the US and EU have imposed targeted sanctions against Russian officials, freezing their assets and banning visas, as well as against 17 Russian companies, over the country’s reunification with the former Ukrainian republic of Crimea.

In addition, the leaders of the G7 group of nations have threatened Russia with sanctions against key sectors of economy in case of a further escalation of Ukrainian crisis.

Moscow has repeatedly stated that the language of sanctions is «inappropriate and counterproductive» and warned the Western partners about the “boomerang effect” that sanctions would have. Some EU members already raised their voice against the possible new sanctions against Russia, as they could damage the European economy.

Topics: Russia, Europe

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