Russia said on Wednesday it would respond in kind to new U.S. sanctions imposed on the country over the Ukraine crisis.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website that Moscow will take "countermeasures" that will not necessarily "mirror” the U.S. sanctions.
The ministry said “the U.S. should have no illusions that it can continue this course without negative consequences for itself.”
The U.S. government said in a statement on its Federal Register website Wednesday that it is adding 29 people to the sanctions list to tighten restrictions previously imposed on Russia.
It said the 29 individuals are acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States.
Wednesday's statement said the U.S. is taking this action to ensure the efficacy of existing sanctions on Russia for violating international law and fueling the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
The European Union is expected to extend for another six months its sanctions against Ukrainian and Russian elements accused of backing pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine. Without an extension, those sanctions will expire on September 15.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly dismissed the EU sanctions against its defense, financial and energy sectors, in addition to targeted individual sanctions, as ineffective and counterproductive to peace efforts, despite their impact on Russian economy.
Some information is from AFP and Reuters.
