国际英语资讯:Russia slaps large-scale sanctions on Ukraine_时事

国际英语资讯:Russia slaps large-scale sanctions on Ukraine

"Russia is not the initiator of such an exchange of restrictions, but it is a necessary measure. It is a response to the steps that were taken by the Ukrainian side," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a daily briefing.

At a joint press conference with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Kiev, Poroshenko said that Russia sanctioned "a list of very worthy people" and the restrictions are an "evidence of the unconstructive position of Russia."

The Russian sanctions will unlikely affect Ukraine's macroeconomic stability as most of the targeted individuals are officials and they have no business ties with Russia, said Kateryna Rozhkova, first deputy governor of the National Bank of Ukraine.

Russian political analyst Maxim Zharov said the sanctions were too late and the Ukrainian side may have braced themselves and withdrawn capital from Russia.

"Therefore, there will be some effect from such sanctions, but there is no reason to hope for any serious changes in Kiev's policy towards Donbass," Zharov said.

However, Mikhail Belyaev, chief expert of Russia's Financial and Economic Analytics Agency, said the measures will "painfully" affect the economy of Ukraine and drive it into a more difficult situation.

"When it comes to the withdrawal of capital, some suspicious transactions, in this case, the restrictions should be used against the unfriendly actions of Ukrainian companies and individuals, which oppose Russia most fiercely," he said.