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MOSCOW. – The new round of US economic sanctions imposed against Russia over the Ukrainian crisis will only further worsen relations between Washington and Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. EU and US imposed a new round of sanctions on Russia over Ukraine
“Washington will gain nothing from such decisions except for further complication of Russian-American relations and the creation of an unfavourable atmosphere in international affairs, where the co-operation between our countries often plays a key role,” the statement by the ministry reads.
“We have repeatedly spoken about the illegitimacy and groundlessness of the US sanctions against Russia,” it said, commenting on a new package of sanctions announced by Washington on Tuesday.
In addition to steps taken earlier, the US has now added four new names to the list of Russia-affiliated entities sanctioned by Washington, including the Bank of Moscow, the Russian Agricultural Bank and VTB Bank OAO, as well as the state-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation.
Also, the US will be “blocking the exports of specific goods and technologies to the Russian energy sector”, “expanding sanctions to more banks” and “suspending credit that encourages exports to Russia,” President Barack Obama said on Tuesday.
The move came just hours after the EU announced its own economic measures targeting the Russian economy.
Both the US and the EU accuse Moscow of supporting anti-Kiev militias in eastern Ukraine.
Moscow, in response, said that the US is only pretending to be consistent in its current behaviour. In fact, “it is only trying to escape responsibility for the tragic development of the events in Ukraine,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said yesterday.
“It is not Russia but the Kiev regime and its foreign patrons that can be blamed for the increasing number of casualties among civilians in eastern (Ukrainian) regions,” the ministry said in a statement.
The White House — in its “pretentious, prosecutor-like manner” — continues to put forward groundless charges against Russia, the ministry said.
At the same time, the US is covering up “the bloody operation by the Kiev military who, in violation of international laws, have launched missile strikes against peaceful cities.”
In Moscow’s view, “the only goal” that the US is pursuing by imposing sanctions is to “settle accounts” with Russia for its policies that are “independent and unfavourable for Washington.”
“The losses that Washington will sustain from such a destructive and myopic policy will be very tangible,” the Foreign Ministry added. — RT.
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