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Anti-Russian sanctions

Russia sees no logic in new US sanctions — foreign ministry

The spokesperson added that new sanctions against Russia were imposed against the backdrop of US State Secretary John Kerry’s recent visit to Moscow devoted to discussing the situation in Ukraine

Foreign Ministry official spokesperson Maria Zakharova Mikhail Japaridze/TASS

Foreign Ministry official spokesperson Maria Zakharova

© Mikhail Japaridze/TASS

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. There is no logic in new US sanctions against Russia, Foreign Ministry official spokesperson Maria Zakharova told a briefing on Thursday.

ANTI-RUSSIAN SANCTIONS

"We do not see any plausible logic is such steps," Zakharova said. "The only thing that is guiding the US political leadership is, in our opinion, the intention to do something unpleasant to Russia," she added. The spokesperson added that new sanctions against Russia were imposed against the backdrop of US State Secretary John Kerry’s recent visit to Moscow devoted to discussing the situation in Ukraine and cooperation on Syrian settlement.

The United States earlier expanded its economic sanctions against Russia to "support the US commitment to seek a diplomatic resolution to the crisis in Ukraine." The US sanctions would not be lifted until Russia fully implements its commitments under the Minsk peace agreement. "Yandex.Money", Sberbank Europe, Sberbank Switzerland and VTB 24 were among newly sanctioned companies, along with Crimean wine producers and several individuals.

Sanctions against Deinego raise doubts about US commitment to Minsk-2

According to the spokeswoman, US sanctions against the envoy of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic at talks of the Contact Group, Vladislav Deinego, discredit Washington’s commitment to the idea of the Ukrainian settlement

"LPR representative at talks with Ukraine Mr Deinego was put on a new sanction list. How can we speak about a realistic approach of Americans to the Ukrainian settlement if it is complicating life for those on whom progress and implementation of the Minsk agreements in practice depends?" she asked.

Tags

Foreign policy Sanctions vs. Russia

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