Decision of EU top diplomats on extending sanctions regrettable — Russian envoy

Decisions by the European Union’s top diplomats are regrettable, Russian ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov said.
"By acting in such a narrow-minded way, the EU in essence is subjecting to additional tests our partnership — the partnership between Russia and the European Union, which is regrettable," Chizhov said while commenting on the meeting’s results.
In his words, "besides selective assessments of these or those events, sweeping criticism of Russia is the dominating element. As if Russia, and not the Kiev authorities with the connivance of the EU, had unfolded the bloodbath in eastern Ukraine."
"The call for implementation of the Minsk agreements contrasts with statements heard in the past few days from the Ukrainian capital that they are no longer content with the Minsk agreements and it’s necessary to seek another format," Chizhov said.
"But while these conversations can be heard, shelling of residential districts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Gorlovka continue. And nothing is said, for example, about the situation of Gorlovka residents," he said.
Chizhov said all components of the EU’s reaction to the situation in Ukraine are wrong.
"(EU foreign policy chief Federica) Mogherini, while summing up the meeting on Thursday, selected three components in the EU’s reaction to deterioration of the situation in eastern Ukraine. Unfortunately, all three are wrong," he said.

"The first one is extension until September of the sanctions packages. The second is the instruction to draft over a week an additional list to be approved at the next Council February 9. The context suggests that the talk could be about a list of persons. And the third is the start of preparatory work on other possible actions to ensure implementation of the Minsk agreements," Chizhov said.
"This is a rather vague formula with anything behind — from what, for example, Russia expects from the European Union (pressure on the Kiev authorities) to develop packages of sanctions," he said.
As regards Russia’s reaction, he said, the president and the foreign minister have already said the problem of sanctions should be addressed by the EU as "it is a problem created by it." "We have not held, are not holding and are not going to hold any talks on sanctions with the EU," the ambassador said.
The top diplomats of the 28 EU member countries decided on Thursday to extend individual sanctions against Russia and eastern Ukrainian militias.