MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On March 18, Ottawa expanded sanctions against Russia, adding that they should not be lifted until Russia fully implemented commitments under the Minsk agreements on the settlement of Ukraine's conflict.
"[We] have accepted with disappointment Canada's decision to extend anti-Russia 'black lists' in the context of the Ukrainian events. Contrary to the statements of new [Canadian] government of [Prime Minister] Justin Trudeau about the intention to cooperate in the international field, Ottawa continued to escalate tensions," the statement reads.
It added that the Canadian government had a chance to overcome the deadlock in the bilateral relations with Russia, dropped this option, so the ministry would take it into consideration and respond with its own countermeasures.