Russia: EU shows 'weakness' by extending sanctions

By Ali Cura

MOSCOW (AA) – Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Friday that the EU's decision to extend sanctions on Russia was unsurprising.

"Actually, it was not a surprise. The European Union has once again showed its weakness," the ministry added in a statement.

It also said it was "absurd" to link the restrictions to Russia’s implementation of the Minsk agreement on Ukraine.

The ministry called the EU's reaction to swift changes on the international stage "inconsistent and contradictory."

The EU decided on Thursday to extend sanctions on Russia for six more months due to the situation in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula was formally annexed by Moscow in March 2014 after an illegal independence vote.

The UN General Assembly has voted nearly unanimously to proclaim the Russian annexation illegal.

Along with many UN countries, the U.S., and the EU, Turkey also does not recognize Crimea as Russian territory.

Fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russia separatists has seen around 9,700 killed, according to the UN.