MOSCOW, March 06. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia will react immediately if consular agencies of any EU countries toughen visa issuance rules, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Thursday.

Russia considers the EU intention to suspend talks with Russia on visa liberalization due to the situation in Ukraine politicized and groundless, Lukashevich said.

“We express bewilderment with the European Union’s intention to suspend the talks with Russia on visa liberalization due to the situation in Ukraine. This approach is politicized and groundless and runs counter the Russian-EU agreements on further easing citizens’ mutual trips,” the diplomat said.

“Moscow hopes that our partners will give up such step, which does not meet the interests of Russian and EU citizens,” he said.