Second set of US sanctions against Russia not related to situation in Ukraine

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The EU's new sanctions against Russia can be explained by the fact that Europe is trying to find those responsible for the processes ongoing in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. New EU sanctions against Russia occur as Europe is trying to find someone to blame for the processes taking place in Ukraine. "As for the second set, it is not even clear what it is about, I can hardly explain what is the reason for it, because there is no link between what is happening now in Ukraine and Russia", Putin told reporters.

He expressed his view that the Western partners "used the force scenario to find solution to the Ukrainian crisis, and then realized what it leads to. So they are trying to find someone to blame now." "But I have to say that Russia has nothing to do with it," said Putin.

The President has again criticized the West in the absence of logic. "I consider the first so-called set to be an unfriendly and illegal act in relation to Russia, which is certainly detrimental to the US-Russian and Russian-European relations. It is absolutely obvious when we talk about the second set", Putin said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin believes there is no need for Russia to impose its own sanctions on the EU and the US in response to their sanctions against Russia but warns of their possible consequences for Western companies' presence in the key sectors of the Russian economy.

"The government has already proposed some response steps, and I think there is no need for this. But if something of the sort continues, we will certainly have to see carefully who works in the key sectors of the Russian economy and how, including in the energy sector," Putin said in taking questions from journalists following a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Minsk on Tuesday.

"We really wouldn't like to resort to any response steps, and I hope this won't be necessary," he said.

Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_29/Second-set-of-US-sanctions-against-Russia-not-related-to-situation-in-Ukraine-Putin-4642/