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Moscow expects Kiev to explain sanctions undermining Minsk agreements — Foreign Ministry

The Russian Foreign Ministry says it is "another unfriendly move of the Ukrainian side"
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova TASS/Artiom Geodakyan
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova
© TASS/Artiom Geodakyan

MOSCOW, September 17. /TASS/. Moscow expects Kiev to give full explanations on its decision to extend sanctions against Russia. Such provocative actions undermine the Minsk peace agreements, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Ukraine’s charge d’affaires Ruslan Nimchinsky on Thursday to voice protest against Kiev’s sanctions, Zakharova went on to say.

The Russian diplomat said Moscow expects Kiev’s explanations on the sanctions, saying it is "another unfriendly move of the Ukrainian side."

"Moscow has the right to expect full-fledged explanations about this decision which we consider to be odious. It was also noted that such provocative actions of the official Kiev do not contribute towards normalizing the Russian-Ukrainian relations and undermine the implementation of the February 12 Minsk agreements," the ministry’s spokesperson stressed.

Commenting on Ukraine’s decision to blacklist several Russian air companies, the diplomat said: "Not only companies, their managements and employees suffer from getting on such lists. It also damages the interests of people in both countries who use these companies’ services," Zakharova said.

"It is a new spiral of tensions and a new example of politicized approach. Regrettably, all that is hurting the interests of ordinary citizens, including Ukrainian nationals," the Russian diplomat said.