EU Called Russian Sanctions on Ukraine Groundless

Russia's Anti-Ukrainian sanctions are groundless and are aimed at aggravating the conflict situation, Interfax-Ukraine reports, citing the press service of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine. “There is a need to avoid steps aimed at aggravating the situation and undermining the search for a decision for the sake of restoring the territorial integrity of Ukraine”, the press service reports. Russia imposed sanctions on 322 Ukrainians and 68 Ukrainian companies on November 1. Among those affected by the sanctions are Ukrainian oligarchs Rinat Akhmetov, Igor Kolomoisky, Viktor Pinchuk, metallurgical and pharmaceutical companies, as well as agricultural companies. Also sanctions were imposed against Ukrainian politicians, officials and businessmen. Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that the imposed sanctions were a response to the sanctions imposed on Russia by the Ukrainian authorities. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said that Ukrainians who were on the Russian sanctions list perceive this as a state award. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin stressed that the imposition of restrictions from Moscow is a teaser (short announcement) of the multi-episode soap opera, which is an attempt to influence Kyiv before the presidential and parliamentary elections. Source: RBC