Moscow disappointed over new US sanctions against Russian companies – Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW- Russia’s Foreign Ministry expresses disappointment over the US authorities’ decision to introduce sanctions against 8 more Russian companies, the ministry’s official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on her Facebook page.

“The US administration’s decision to introduce restrictions against a number of Russian organizations, including those linked to aircraft construction and training aviation specialists, raises eyebrows and arouses disappointment,” she said, according to TASS.

“This new portion of sanctions does not pose any serious problems for us, of course, however the Americans did not even name the reasons but just referred to their legislation prohibiting themselves to cooperate with Iran and Syria,” the diplomat said.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry notes that this step “is not in line with Washington’s statements on priority of fight against terrorism, including its nest on the Syrian territory.”

The US authorities “dance to the tune of those who have had a primary occupation of gradually destroying Russian-US cooperation.” “These actors have been looking for enemies for a long time not in a place where they really exist. Apparently, such approach does not meet the US security interests,” she said.

On Saturday, US Administration imposed sanctions on eight more Russian companies accusing them of violating US non-proliferation law concerning Iran, North Korea and Syria since 2009. Traditionally, the US does not specify its claims to the Russian companies.

Among them are Russia’s main weapons exporter Rosobornexport, the 150th aircraft repair plant, the Aviaexport foreign economic trade company, the Bazalt Scientific and Research Corporation, the Scientific and Production Corporation ‘Engineering Design Bureau (weapons manufacturing companies), the Ulyanovsk Higher Civil Aviation School, the Urals Civil Aviation Training Center, and the Zhukovsky – Gagarin Air Force Academy.

The current sanctions, due to remain in force for the coming two years, ban US departments and agencies from buying any goods or services from blacklisted companies, from selling arms and military hardware to them. Also, the sanctioned companies can neither obtain licenses for buying goods listed in the export control nor get assistance.

M.Wassouf