Russian diplomats denounce new EU sanctions, claim they are 'meaningless' without UN decision

Russian diplomats have strongly condemned the latest round of European Union sanctions imposed in connection with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. According to Russian news agencies, a statement from Russia's mission to the European Union asserts that these new measures lack the legitimacy of a UN Security Council decision and are therefore "meaningless." This stance highlights Russia's consistent position that unilateral sanctions are a violation of international law and the UN Charter.

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We would like to remind you that only sanctions imposed by the decision of the UN Security Council are legitimate.

The Russian statement further accuses the EU of engaging in "economic blackmail and extraterritorial application of sanctions" by restricting exports to countries cooperating with Russia. This perspective frames the EU's actions not merely as punitive measures against Russia, but as an attempt to exert undue influence on global trade and the sovereignty of other nations. From Moscow's viewpoint, these sanctions are an arbitrary act of aggression rather than a legitimate tool of international policy.

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All others are unilateral coercive measures, and essentially arbitrariness and aggression that contradict international law and the UN Charter.

The EU's adoption of its 20th sanctions package, which reportedly occurred after Slovakia and Hungary withdrew their objections, is seen by Russia as a continuation of a confrontational policy. The timing, potentially linked to the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, underscores the EU's persistent efforts to isolate Russia economically and politically. Russia, however, appears resolute in its rejection of these measures, viewing them as ineffective and illegitimate without broader international consensus.

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resorting to economic blackmail and extraterritorial application of sanctions.