Russia's foreign ministry said on Saturday that Moscow has the right of a tit-for-tat response to the second wave of sanctions imposed by the European Union over Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea.
The EU imposed an new set of sanctions on Friday adding 12 Russians and Ukrainians to a list of people targeted by EU asset freezes and travel bans. There are now 33 on the list.
"It's a pity that the European Council made a decision that is divorced from reality," the ministry's spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a statement on the ministry's website.
"We believe it is time to return to the platform of pragmatic cooperation that reflects the interests of our countries. However, of course, the Russian side reserves itself the right to give a comparable answer to the actions taken."
. @RFERL Russian Service rpts protesters in Donetsk are chanting for Yanukovych for the first time in weeks.
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) March 22, 2014
In #Donetsk now pic.twitter.com/97k5eGagBH
— Nechepurenko (@INechepurenko) March 22, 2014
Stand-off here at Novofederoskoe base. Taken by Russians but Ukrainians refusing to leave one building. Stormed by Russian crowd, vandalised
— Mark Lowen (@marklowen) March 22, 2014
Ukrainian troops in building throwing smoke to stop Russians from storming further. Refusing to leave pic.twitter.com/TWkhRBElnw
— Mark Lowen (@marklowen) March 22, 2014
Pro-Russian group walks Artema Vulystya, a central Donetsk street lining Lenin Square, encourages cars to honk. pic.twitter.com/IRZR1yifMw
— James Novogrod (@JamieNBCNews) March 22, 2014
#European politician Bengt Beier calls for real sanctions: "The EU must decide on REAL economic sanctions now!... http://t.co/Cvow5SAyn4
— English EuroMaidan (@EuroMaidanEN) March 22, 2014
Some 500 people in Kharkiv demanding referendum on autonomy for Eastern regions. Say bigger meeting tomorrow at 12. pic.twitter.com/b4qJj4svIQ
— Simon Kruse (@crusoes) March 22, 2014
* Tourism, 69 percent of which came from Ukraine and 25 percent from Russia in 2012;
* Deep sea natural gas reserves in the Black Sea waters surrounding the peninsula.
Meanwhile, Crimea gets more than 80 percent of is electricity, "most of its food supply" and "almost all of its fresh water" from mainland Ukraine.
NPR: #Russia warns it may undercut Iran talks over sanctions http://t.co/vA6JQKVi9h
— Just Hovens Greve (@JustHovensGreve) March 22, 2014