国际英语新闻:Russia says to counter new EU sanctions

MOSCOW, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Russia said on Thursday it will counter new sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU), calling the EU move short-sighted in view of the peace process in Ukraine.

"As we have already stated, these new anti-Russian sanctions will not be left without a proper reaction on our part," Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement released hours after the EU adopted a new package of sanctions against Russia's financial and energy sectors.

"The trend inside the EU to further aggravate the already tense relations with Russia is becoming evident," the ministry said. " The EU's steps look particularly irrelevant and short-sighted as the fragile peace process has just started in Ukraine."

The ministry accused the EU of standing against a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

"The EU actually made its choice against the process of a peace settlement of the Ukraine crisis, which all responsible forces in Europe are expected to support," the statement said, calling for " a chance for peace."

"Brussels and heads of EU member states should give a clear answer to European citizens why they subjected to the risks of confrontation, economic stagnation and loss of jobs," the ministry was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin called the EU sanctions "strategic error and gross miscalculation."

The EU said the new restrictive measures against Russia would enter into force Friday. These new sanctions against Moscow are expected to put Russia's top oil producers and pipeline operators on a list of companies that will not be allowed to raise capital or borrow on European markets.

Moreover, U.S. President Barack Obama announced that his country would join the EU in deepening and broadening sanctions in Russia's financial, energy, and defense sectors "in response to its illegal actions in Ukraine."

These measures will increase Russia's political isolation and the economic costs to Russia, especially in areas of importance to Russian President Vladimir Putin and those close to him, Obama said in a statement, adding that his administration will outline the specifics of the new sanctions on Friday.

The new sanctions came despite that the Ukrainian government and rebels inked a ceasefire agreement on Friday in Minsk, capital of Belarus. The deal was expected to pave the way for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.