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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Russia 'to respond' to new US sanctions |
| 2016-12-22 |
| [BBC] The Kremlin has said it will take "adequate measures" after the US increased sanctions on Russian individuals and companies because of the 2014 annexation of Crimea. As well as six bank officials, the US has targeted Yevgeny Prigozhin, a man known as the Kremlin's caterer, who has close links to the defence ministry. The US Treasury said the action underscored its refusal to recognise the annexation. The EU has prolonged its sanctions too. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not specify what new measures would be taken by Russia, which imposed a food import ban on European countries in retaliation in 2014. "We can only once again express regret and misunderstanding over this destructive persistence of our US colleagues," Mr Peskov said on Wednesday. "We believe this damages bilateral relations." What is not clear is whether US sanctions on Russia will continue for much longer when Donald Trump becomes president. When asked if sanctions would stay in place, Reince Priebus, chosen by the president-elect as has White House chief of staff, said this month that "as far as where that product goes next, you have to just wait and see". Unlike the US, the European Union has not added further names to its list. Although EU leaders did agreed that sanctions should be extended for another six months, some member states, including Italy and Slovakia, are keen to have the measures eased. |
| Posted by:Pappy |