MOSCOW, September 11 /ITAR-TASS/. Russia regrets that the European Union has imposed a new round of sanctions against Russia and prefers talking the language of sanctions, Russian president’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.
“We are sorry that the European Union has adopted a new round of sanctions (against Russia). We have repeatedly expressed our discontent with and lack of understanding of the previously-imposed sanctions, which we have considered to be illegal,” Peskov said.
“As for the decision voiced today, it goes beyond any understanding or explanation against the background of efforts which Russia has been exerting in recent days guided, among other things, by President Putin’s peace initiatives to end the bloodshed and achieve peaceful settlement of the conflict in southeast Ukraine,” Peskov went on to say.
Peskov said the Russian side felt sorry that the European Union preferred the language of sanctions instead of promoting peaceful settlement in Ukraine not in words but in deeds.
"It is absolutely clear to us that in this case Brussels either does not see or does not want to see the real state of things in Donbas and does not want to know about steps which the parties are making to reach a settlement,” Putin’s spokesperson said.
“Naturally, the sanctions are going to create a certain discomfort for the Russian side. At the same time, we cannot but understand that European companies and taxpayers will also have to pay a cost for these sanctions, which, in fact, is already happening,” Peskov stressed, adding that Russia would go ahead with efforts to stabilize the situation in southeast Ukraine.
“Despite the absence of any constructive thinking in the position of Brussels, Russia will continue doing everything it can to implement the existing peace plan and stabilize the situation in southeast Ukraine,” Peskov said in conclusion.