The latest round of sanctions introduced by the European Union against Russia through Ukraine will only exacerbate problems within the EU, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday, Reuters reports.

Maria ZakharovaPhoto: Russian Look Ltd. / Alamy / Alamy / Profimedia

EU leaders this week agreed to give Ukraine 18 billion euros in funding next year and hit Moscow with a ninth package of sanctions. The latest measures blacklisted nearly 200 more people and banned investment in Russia’s mining industry, among other measures.

“The current “package” will have the same effect as all the previous ones – the aggravation of socio-economic problems in the European Union itself,” said the spokeswoman of the ministry, Maria Zakharova.

She also called on Brussels to lift all restrictions that directly or indirectly affect Russian grain and fertilizer exports.

Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia will expand trade cooperation with new partners, including by sharply increasing gas exports to China, to combat Western sanctions.

Punitive measures adopted by the EU target Russian defense companies, banks, media outlets and government officials to “further disrupt the Russian economy and their war machine,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

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