Russia says new EU sanctions risk ending security cooperation
European Union sanctions against Russia have expanded to include Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Chief Alexander Bortnikov. (Getty) Getty
Russia has blasted new European Union sanctions targeting Russian intelligence chiefs over its role in Ukraine, saying they risk ending all joint cooperation on security.
The European Union "has practically speaking put at risk international cooperation in the area of security," the Russian foreign ministry said in an angry response.
The EU on Saturday announced it had broadened its list of Russian officials facing targeted sanctions to include the head of the FSB security service, Alexander Bortnikov, and the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Mikhail Fradkov.
It also included the head of Russia's national security council, Nikolai Patrushev who is a former head of the FSB.
"The additional sanctions list is a direct testimony that European Union countries have chosen a course towards fully rolling back cooperation with Russia in matters of international and regional security," Moscow said.
It cited the worsening situation in Afghanistan, the Middle East and North Africa.
Russia called the fresh sanctions "irresponsible", adding that the effect of the penalties "will be enthusiastically welcomed by international terrorism".
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