Kremlin slams new US sanctions, warns of damage to bilateral relations
The Kremlin said Wednesday that new sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States would damage relations between the two countries and that Moscow would respond with its own measures.
"We regret that Washington is continuing on this destructive path," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call. "We believe this damages bilateral relations ... Russia will take commensurate measures."
The United States on Tuesday blacklisted seven people and eight companies and government enterprises over Russia's annexation of Crimea and the conflict in Ukraine, the U.S. Treasury said in a statement.
In addition, it named 26 subsidiaries of Russian Agricultural Bank and gas producer Novatek, both of which had already been sanctioned in 2014. U.S. sanctions on those firms are relatively narrow, and prohibit Americans from dealing in certain kinds of debt with the companies.
"Today's action is in response to Russia's unlawful occupation of Crimea and continued aggression in Ukraine," John E. Smith, acting director of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, said in a statement.
"These targeted sanctions aim to maintain pressure on Russia by sustaining the costs of its occupation of Crimea and disrupting the activities of those who support the violence and instability in Ukraine."
The European Union on Monday extended sanctions against Russia for six months.
The latest sanctions by Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) blocks any property of investment by the designated individuals and companies in the United States, and prohibits any transactions with them by Americans individuals or companies.
"These targeted sanctions aim to maintain pressure on Russia by sustaining the costs of its occupation of Crimea and disrupting the activities of those who support the violence and instability in Ukraine," acting OFAC Director John E. Smith said in the statement.
The sanctions target Russian construction and shipping companies and the Crimean port operator, as well as two ships. It also impacts six executives of Bank Rossiya and Sobinbank, and one with business ties to Russia's Defense Ministry.
"We regret that Washington is continuing on this destructive path," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call. "We believe this damages bilateral relations ... Russia will take commensurate measures."
The United States on Tuesday blacklisted seven people and eight companies and government enterprises over Russia's annexation of Crimea and the conflict in Ukraine, the U.S. Treasury said in a statement.
In addition, it named 26 subsidiaries of Russian Agricultural Bank and gas producer Novatek, both of which had already been sanctioned in 2014. U.S. sanctions on those firms are relatively narrow, and prohibit Americans from dealing in certain kinds of debt with the companies.
"Today's action is in response to Russia's unlawful occupation of Crimea and continued aggression in Ukraine," John E. Smith, acting director of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, said in a statement.
"These targeted sanctions aim to maintain pressure on Russia by sustaining the costs of its occupation of Crimea and disrupting the activities of those who support the violence and instability in Ukraine."
The European Union on Monday extended sanctions against Russia for six months.
The latest sanctions by Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) blocks any property of investment by the designated individuals and companies in the United States, and prohibits any transactions with them by Americans individuals or companies.
"These targeted sanctions aim to maintain pressure on Russia by sustaining the costs of its occupation of Crimea and disrupting the activities of those who support the violence and instability in Ukraine," acting OFAC Director John E. Smith said in the statement.
The sanctions target Russian construction and shipping companies and the Crimean port operator, as well as two ships. It also impacts six executives of Bank Rossiya and Sobinbank, and one with business ties to Russia's Defense Ministry.