In response to new sanctions, Putin calls U.S. foreign policy 'unprofessional'

MOSCOW, July 17 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin commented Thursday about the U.S. decision to impose additional sanctions on Russia, calling American foreign policy "aggressive" and "unprofessional."

On Wednesday, U.S. President Barack Obama introduced a new set of sanctions against large Russian companies and financial institutions in response to Russia's failure to de-escalate tensions with neighboring Ukraine.

Putin criticized U.S. foreign policy, declaring that "those who plan foreign policy actions in the United States (this is not a recent observation but one pertaining to the last 10-15 years) are conducting an aggressive foreign policy and, in my view, a rather unprofessional one..."

When asked what Russia's response will be to the new sanctions, Putin told a gathering of reporters, "We will need to see what those sanctions entail; we will need to look into it calmly, without any commotion."

"As for various sanctions ... they generally have a boomerang effect and, without a doubt, in this case, are driving the Russian-U.S. relations into a stalemate and seriously damaging them."

Putin proposed that instead, the U.S. and Russia should be "calling on all sides in the conflict in Ukraine to immediately cease hostilities and start talks."

The sanctions against Russia, Obama explained Wednesday, were pursued because Russia has not supported cease-fire efforts or internationally-mediated talks.

"Along with our allies, with whom I've been coordinating closely the last several days and weeks, I've repeatedly made it clear that Russia must halt the flow of weapons and fighters across the border into Ukraine; that Russia must urge separatists to release their hostages and support a cease-fire; that Russia needs to pursue internationally-mediated talks and agree to meaningful monitors on the border. I've made this clear directly to Mr. Putin."

Putin claimed on Thursday that "everyone who has relations with and influence on the parties in this conflict should do everything in order for the bloodshed to end, immediately and from both sides."

Obama reiterated in his foreign policy speech Wednesday "we have to see concrete actions and not just words that Russian, in fact, is committed to trying to end this conflict along the Russia-Ukraine border."