MOSCOW, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said Tuesday the latest U.S. sanctions on Russian officials put in question the bilateral cooperation on major global problems.
The sanctions particularly hinders the efforts to reach a comprehensive agreement on Iran's controversial nuclear program and to find a peaceful solution for the Syrian crisis, according to the spokesman.
"It seems as if there are people in Washington who are itching to destroy the foundation of our bilateral relations," RIA Novosti news agency quoted Lukashevich as saying.
The spokesman said that the move was "totally politically motivated", warning that Russia has never left and will never leave such unfriendly moves unanswered.
The U.S. Department of Treasury on Monday added four Russians to its sanctions list under a law enacted two years ago following the death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who was described by the U.S. as a fighter against corruptions among Russian officials.
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Saturday posted a year-end statement on its website, criticizing the U.S. for its "wilful" choices to step up pressure on Moscow by imposing more sanctions, which only resulted in the escalating tensions between the two countries.
The ministry also called for the restoration of bilateral relations, which is only possible when Washington is ready to respect Moscow's interests and conduct an equal dialogue.
MOSCOW, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Russia vowed Saturday to take retaliatory measures against a fresh round of punitive measures, after the United States and Canada followed EU steps to rachet up sanctions over Crimea and for what they say Russia's role in the ongoing Ukrainian crisis.
U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday signed an executive order, imposing a ban on new investment in Crimea and barring export or import of goods, technology or services with the region, which joined Russia after a referendum in March.Full Story
MOSCOW, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- It has been more than a decade since Russians woke up to find again their ruble savings sharply depreciate against the U.S. dollar and the euro. Even worse, they would probably have to endure a few years of recession coupled with high inflation risks.
Meanwhile, both the Russian leadership and experts agree that the economy will ride out recession, as the country has started accelerating economic restructuring and diversification.Full Story
MOSCOW, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russia vowed Saturday to take retaliatory measures against fresh U.S. and Canadian sanctions, calling the moves an evidence that the West lacks interest in settling the Ukraine crisis.
"The United States and Canada still cannot put up with the results of free declaration of will in Crimea and Sevastopol," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a statement.Full story
MOSCOW, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Russian government should focus on supporting the innovation sector as a way to cut the country's independence on import and facilitate the solution to current economic woes, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Friday.
His remarks came at a time when the Russian economy hit the buffers following a plunge in the value of the ruble as well as the free fall in crude oil prices since June.Full story
BERLIN, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Friday warned against a further tightening of EU sanctions against Russia.
In an interview with German news magazine Der Spiegel, Steinmeier said he was concerned that Russia would be destabilized if Europe does not loosen the sanctions.Full story
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Although a new round of U.S. sanctions against Russia might not have a direct impact, they could increase Russia's sense of panic and ratchet up pressure on the country's embattled economy, experts said.
U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday signed into law a new round of sanctions against Russia, but for now, does not intend to use them, saying the administration is keeping an eye on the situation in Ukraine.Full story
