Russia strongly opposes EU extension of sanctions

(Baonghean.vn)- On July 1, Russia strongly criticized the European Union's (EU) decision to extend economic sanctions against the country for another six months related to the conflict in Ukraine, while emphasizing that the sanctions will not make Moscow change its course.

Tensions between Russia and the West have escalated since the Russian Federation annexed the Crimean peninsula in March 2014. Photo: Sputnik.

In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the EU's move was "shortsighted" and "absurd" in linking sanctions to the lack of progress in implementing a peace deal to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

“In fact, it is the EU that has turned the tension in EU-Russia relations into irresponsible games of the Ukrainian authorities,” the statement said.

Russia's statement came just hours after the European Council announced the extension of economic sanctions targeting the oil, financial and defense sectors of the Russian economy until January 31 next year, citing the terms of the February 2015 Minsk peace agreement "not being fully implemented".

The West has imposed sanctions on Russia since the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine in July 2014, accusing Moscow of playing a role in the conflict in the region.

The Putin administration has consistently denied all allegations and has vowed to take appropriate countermeasures. On June 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree extending the ban on food imports from the West until the end of 2017.

The EU is currently facing difficult debates on extending sanctions against Russia related to the conflict in Ukraine, due to opposition from some member states. In early June, the French Senate passed a resolution calling on the French government to begin gradually easing sanctions against Russia./.

Lan Ha

(According to AFP)