×

Our award-winning reporting has moved

Context provides news and analysis on three of the world’s most critical issues:

climate change, the impact of technology on society, and inclusive economies.

Russia calls Western sanctions against Ukraine officials "blackmail"

by Reuters
Thursday, 20 February 2014 12:11 GMT

(Adds quotes, context)

MOSCOW, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Russia sharply criticised Western sanctions against Ukrainian officials on Thursday, after the United States imposed visa bans and the European Union considered similar measures in the face of deadly clashes in Kiev.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said the sanctions were "absolutely illegitimate" and "capable of only aggravating the confrontation" in Ukraine.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov likened threats of sanctions to blackmail, state-run news agency RIA reported.

"The EU is also trying to consider the introduction of sanctions and at the same time they come to Kiev on uninvited missions," Lavrov was quoted as saying during a visit to Baghdad. "Such actions are reminiscent of blackmail."

The United States said on Wednesday that it had imposed U.S. visa bans on 20 Ukrainian government officials it considered "responsible for ordering human rights abuses related to political oppression".

European Union ambassadors discussed a series of possible steps including asset freezes and travel bans.

(Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; Writing by Thomas Grove; Editing by Steve Gutterman)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

-->