The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday that the new sanctions imposed against Russia continue on the harmful course toward the full destruction of bilateral relations, stressing that a practical response from Moscow would follow.
"As for our practical answer, it will certainly ensue", the ministry’s statement reads.
"We express our regret that in the American and Canadian capitals they continue to pursue a disastrous course towards the complete destruction of bilateral relations with Russia, which are already in a very deplorable state as a result of the heavy Russophobia that swept Washington and Ottawa", the ministry said.
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"They are trying again to justify the new restrictions by the allegedly aggressive actions of Russia against Ukraine, and the 'illegal annexation of the Crimea,' this time adding baseless accusations of 'unjustified use of force' in the Kerch Strait", the ministry said, adding that the sanctions, no matter how many, do not and will not bring the desired results for the United States and Canada.
"The new portion of sanctions, coordinated with the European allies, was imposed today by the United States and Canada. There is nothing new or unexpected about it. In recent years, Washington and Ottawa, using fake pretexts, have been periodically introducing restrictive measures against Russian citizens and organizations. The goal is to put pressure on our country", the ministry said.
Earlier in the day, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on eight Russian individuals and six entities, including shipbuilding and energy companies. Similarly, the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release on Friday that it had imposed new sanctions on more than 100 Russian individuals and 15 entities in response to the Kerch Strait incident and Crimea’s reunification with Russia.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin called the incident a provocation, noting that there were members of the Ukrainian security service, who were in charge of the operation, on board the Ukrainian vessels.
READ MORE: New Anti-Russia Sanctions to Complicate Talks on Kerch Strait Crisis — Berlin