Russia calls EU sanctions 'devoid of elementary logic'

MOSCOW, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Russian officials criticized the European Union's decision to impose new sanctions against Russia on Thursday.

Russian Ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov called the sanctions "devoid of elementary logic," pointing out that they were adopted at a time of deescalation.

Officials from Ukraine and Russia, joined by representatives of the Russian-backed rebels, signed the Minsk Protocol on September 5 to establish a cease-fire that, while fragile, is currently in effect.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov commented on the West's "war of sanctions" during a two-hour long interview with ITAR-TASS News Agency, insisting that "Russia cannot remain indifferent" to isolation efforts.

"Russia retaliates," Lavrov stated before playing down the impact of the sanctions.

On Thursday, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted that "New anti-Russian sanctions will not be left without proper reaction from Moscow."

The ministry issued a statement that the sanctions demonstrate "the EU actually made its choice against the process of peace settlement of the intra-Ukrainian crisis, support for which is expected from all responsible forces in Europe..."