Russia Slams Western Threats of New Sanctions Over Ukraine, Russia warned Western countries against imposing more sanctions against Moscow, saying such threats show the West is opposed to following through on a truce for eastern Ukraine.
Both the United States and some leaders in Europe have threatened to impose tougher sanctions against Moscow if it does not stop supporting pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday called those threats an attempt to "deflect attention" from the need to follow through on the terms of a cease-fire, which has only recently begun to take hold.
"Behind these calls are hidden the lack of desire of these actors -- the corresponding countries, organizations, the United States, the European Union -- to achieve what was laid out in the Minsk agreements," Lavrov said at a news conference.
No Ukraine front-line casualties
Ukraine's military has reported a reduction in rebel attacks over the past three days, but on Thursday warned again that the separatists continue to attack government targets, including on the outskirts of the port city of Mariupol.
The military also reported Thursday that, for a second straight day, there were no combat casualties at the front, a sign that the fragile cease-fire seems to be taking hold.
Meanwhile, Russian gas giant Gazprom said Thursday it would exempt gas supplies to rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine from its main contract with Ukrainian Naftogaz.......Read More
Both the United States and some leaders in Europe have threatened to impose tougher sanctions against Moscow if it does not stop supporting pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday called those threats an attempt to "deflect attention" from the need to follow through on the terms of a cease-fire, which has only recently begun to take hold.
"Behind these calls are hidden the lack of desire of these actors -- the corresponding countries, organizations, the United States, the European Union -- to achieve what was laid out in the Minsk agreements," Lavrov said at a news conference.
No Ukraine front-line casualties
Ukraine's military has reported a reduction in rebel attacks over the past three days, but on Thursday warned again that the separatists continue to attack government targets, including on the outskirts of the port city of Mariupol.
The military also reported Thursday that, for a second straight day, there were no combat casualties at the front, a sign that the fragile cease-fire seems to be taking hold.
Meanwhile, Russian gas giant Gazprom said Thursday it would exempt gas supplies to rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine from its main contract with Ukrainian Naftogaz.......Read More
