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EU sanctions vs. Russia pose absolutely unfriendly course — Foreign Ministry spokesman

Alexander Lukashevich has also made several statements regarding the planned extension of EU sanctions, NATO plans in Ukraine, the investigation of the MH17 crash
Alexander Lukashevich ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Pochuyev
Alexander Lukashevich
© ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Pochuyev

MOSCOW, September 11. /ITAR-TASS/. Situation around Ukraine takes serious turn towards settlement, spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich has stated on Thursday.

He has also made several statements regarding the planned extension of EU sanctions, NATO plans in Ukraine, the investigation of the MH17 crash, as well as on the policy of current Kiev authorities towards Russia.

{article_photo:748658:'NATO plans to hold manoeuvres in Ukraine endanger fragile peace — envoy':'right':'50'}On NATO exercises in Ukraine

According to Lukashevich, “A number or statements that require a response have been made by Alexander Vershbow, American deputy secretary general of NATO, in particular, “Russia is not a ‘troubled’ neighbour, but a state actively undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.” “Such statements by the alliance leadership are not something new, and we have more than once drawn attention to the words of ‘flying off the handle’ outgoing NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.”

“Such irresponsible statements go in line with the decisions and documents, adopted at the recent NATO summit in Wales in which attempts are made to place on Russia the lion’s share of responsibility for the developments in Ukraine and thus justify the need of the alliance’s activity intensification near the Russian borders, including NATO infrastructure expansion in Eastern Europe,” Lukashevich said.

“This is very similar to the ‘cold war’ logic, while everybody hoped that such logic had long been abandoned,” he added. “In addition, it is absolutely clear that by such statements and decisions NATO is adopting the line for its infrastructure advancement to the East and boosting the alliance forces near the Russian borders.”

“We will, naturally, adequately respond to this,” the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

According to him, it is characteristic that the anti-Russian rhetoric surge is observed “with each appearance of any positive elements in the situation in Ukraine and in a number of other regions.”

Russia hopes that “a serious turn from the armed confrontation to political settlement has happened” in Ukraine.