Kremlin: EU 'political blackmail' bound to fail
The Russian Foreign Ministry has called the extension of EU sanctions against the country by another six months political blackmail, adding that it will not make Russia give up its position.
The statement by the ministry said the EU should accept that the Crimean peninsular, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, is now part of Russia, adding that that will not change through “economic and political blackmail”.
The sanctions are geared towards Crimea, banning imports from the area and investments by the EU citizens into Crimea. The sanctions also ban any ship flying a EU flag from docking at any port on the peninsular.
The EU sanctions were extended until the end of January, 2016. A second round of sanctions, implemented against Russia for its involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, was also extended until the end of January.
Editor: J.M. Laats