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Australia’s sanctions on Russia “theatre of the absurd” — official

Russia’s Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko says Russia struggles for the peaceful resolution of the conflict and provides economic aid to Ukraine
Russia’s Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko ITAR-TASS/Pavel Smertin
Russia’s Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko
© ITAR-TASS/Pavel Smertin

KEMEROVO, June 19. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko has described Australia’s sanctions against Russia as “theatre of the absurd”.

Russia is doing its best to resolve the political crisis in Ukraine, Matviyenko said on Thursday.

“The names of those who provoked the political crisis, those who stirred up trouble and drew the country into the civil war are well-known. But they are not included in any sanction lists,” she said. “Russia struggles for the peaceful resolution of the conflict and provides economic aid to Ukraine, and it is not involved in the conflict. But it has been always threatened with sanctions,” Matviyenko said.

“Sanctions against Russia provoke laughter. Where is Australia, and where is Russia and Ukraine?” she asked.

Australia has imposed sanctions against 50 Russian officials and 11 companies over the situation in Ukraine, the Australian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.