Moscow reacts to EU extension of sanctions on Russia

(Vatican Radio)  Russia says it will retaliate after the European Union on Monday extended economic sanctions until January 2016 to keep pressure on Moscow over the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Listen to the report by Stefan Bos:

The European Foreign Ministers' meeting in Luxembourg agreed Monday to extend economic sanctions on Russia over what they called "Russia's destabilizing role in eastern Ukraine" and what the top diplomats said was the “illegal annexation” of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.

Sanctions include limits to access on some financial markets, a ban on certain technologies and exchanges between the European Union and Russia in energy and defense sectors. The sanctions had been due to expire in July, but are now expected to last till at least January 31, next year.

Speaking to reporters, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier noted that the measure was accepted without debate amid concerns over ongoing violations of a ceasefire, which was signed in Minsk, Belarus. “The extension of sanctions was already likely before Monday's gathering of ministers. In other words, all countries agreed. Because as long as the Minsk agreement is not fulfilled and also Russia has some responsibility for that, it was agreed that the measures would be extended," he said.

Russia Reacts

In response Russia was expected to extend its ban on the import of many agricultural products from the EU. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Alexander Lukashevich condemned Monday's decision to extend economic sanctions on Russia “We are deeply disappointed that views of a Russophobic lobby in the EU once again forced through the illegal decision to extend the restriction against Russia. At the same time Brussels deliberately ignores how these restrictions will lead to the guaranteed loss of hundreds of thousands, according to some estimates - several millions, of Europeans' jobs.” he said.

The Russian spokesman added that the “EU continues to put all the responsibility for the full implementation of the Minsk Agreement on the Russian side.”

He stressed that, “the absurdity of such an approach is clear to everyone. The key to the settlement of the internal Ukrainian crisis was and still is in the hands of Kiev, which doesn't hurry to fulfil their obligations.”

Lukashevich added that the decision “to extend the anti-Russian sanctions looks particularly cynical on June 22, the day when Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union. We hope it is a coincidence, not a specially-designed step."

Russia denies it supports pro-Russian separatists with weapons and troops in a conflict that the United Nations says has killed at least some 6,500 people, including many children.