Moscow slams new US sanctions on Russia-Venezuela bank

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The U.S. has undermined the dollar's credibility by imposing sanctions on a Russian-Venezuelan bank, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

Despite meager results of the previous sanctions, Washington continues its policy of illegal sanctions, the ministry said in a statement on its official website.

"Washington itself is increasingly convincing the world community of the dollar's unreliability, pushing to abandon its use," it added.

Regarding threats of sanction on Russian oil giant Rosneft, the ministry said the company has been operating successfully since 2014 despite restrictions.

"We call on the U.S. to come to its senses and instead of imposing bans on foreign companies and banks, to move finally to normal joint work under the UN auspices and to promote stabilization of the situation in Venezuela on the basis of the principles of international law," the statement said.

On Monday, the U.S. Treasury slapped sanctions on Russian-Venezuelan joint bank "Evrofinance Mosnarbank" that helped the Venezuelan government arrange financial transactions with international partners.

U.S. Envoy for Venezuela Elliott Abrams promised more "severe measures" in the near future.