Russia calls EU's 11th sanctions package over Ukraine war ‘illegitimate’

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia on Friday said the EU's 11th sanctions package against Moscow over its war on Ukraine was “illegitimate” and undermined "international legal prerogatives of the UN Security Council.”

The Foreign Ministry in a statement said the move was “unfriendly action” and Moscow had also expanded its list of EU officials and representatives who are prohibited from entering the country.

“We are talking about representatives of law enforcement agencies, state and commercial organizations of EU countries, citizens of EU member states involved in providing military assistance to the neo-Nazi regime in Kyiv … representatives of European structures responsible for imposing sanctions against our country and trying to undermine Russia's relations with other states,” the statement said.

It added that restrictions were also extended to EU parliamentarians who are “promoting a confrontational agenda with Russia.”

“Any unfriendly actions by Western countries will continue to receive a timely and adequate response,” the ministry said.

Earlier on Friday, the Council of the EU announced the 11th sanctions package introducing “measures intended to strengthen existing EU sanctions and crack down on their circumvention.”