Russia Criticizes New Canadian Sanctions

Russia has expressed disappointment over new sanctions imposed by Canada and warned that it would respond.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich said on June 30 that the new sanctions will "only add negativity to Russian-Canadian relations."

"Of course, this attack will not go unanswered," he added.

Canada announced on June 29 fresh economic sanctions on Russia over its actions in Ukraine.

The sanctions target individuals and entities such as gas giant Gazprom, the nationalist Night Wolves motorcycle club, and the nationalist Eurasian Youth Union.

Ottawa also imposed a ban on the import and export of goods from Crimea.

The West has imposed sanctions on Russia in response to Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and its support for pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine.

Moscow hit back, banning most food imports from the United States, the European Union, Australia, Canada, Norway, and other countries.

Based on reporting by Reuters, TASS, and Interfax