MOSCOW, July 26 (RIA Novosti) – By imposing additional sanctions against Russia, the European Union puts under threat international cooperation in security field, Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“Once again taking the lead from Washington on the issue of additional anti-Russian sanctions, the European Union … basically puts under threat international security cooperation,” the statement reads.
Russian Foreign Ministry underlined that additional list of sanctions is “a direct evidence that EU countries set a course for the total rollback of cooperation with Russia in international and regional security, including combating spread of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, organized crime and other challenges and threats.”
“Brussels is now responsible for this step made amid the dramatic worsening of the international situation, in particular in Afghanistan, Middle East, North Africa and other areas,” Russian Foreign Ministry stressed.
The expanded EU sanctions list that consists of 15 individuals and 18 entities, includes Russian Federal Security Service chief Aleksander Bortnikov, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service Mikhail Fradkov, Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Aleksander Tkachev and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. The EU said earlier it believes that officials and entities targeted by the sanctions are responsible for threatening Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Earlier Saturday, the European Commission has also adopted legislative proposals on sectoral sanctions against Russia amid the crisis in Ukraine. The Council’s Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) is due to discuss them on July 29.
