国际英语新闻:Russia slams new U.S. law on Ukraine

MOSCOW, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Moscow severely criticized on Friday the adoption of a U.S. Congress bill aimed at providing lethal and non-lethal aid to Ukraine and imposing additional sanctions against Russia.

The Ukraine Freedom Support Act approved Thursday by both houses of the U.S. Congress causes nothing but deep regret due to its "openly confrontational nature", Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a statement.

"The U.S. lawmakers, following the steps of the Barack Obama administration, are doing their utmost to destroy the carcass of cooperation (between the two countries)," Lukashevich said.

"It's about time the U.S. congressmen abandon illusions about the effectiveness of their sanctions campaign against Russia. We will not give in to blackmail, we will not forsake our national interests, and we will not allow any interference in our internal affairs," RIA Novosti news agency quoted Lukashevich as saying.

According to the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, a legislation was passed unanimously on Thursday by the Senate, granting lethal military and non-military assistance and expanding sanctions against Russia.

The Ukraine Freedom Support Act would also provide Ukraine with energy, defense sector, and civil society assistance, and expand broadcasting programs to counter Russian propaganda in countries of the former Soviet Union, according to an online announcement posted by the committee.

Also on Friday, Russian Foreign Ministry refuted Washington's groundless and vaguely formulated accusations of Russia violating the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty.

U.S. Under Secretary of State for arms control and international security Rose Gottemoeller said Thursday the U.S. was considering taking economic measures against Moscow in response to Russia's alleged violation of the treaty.

Relationship between Russia and the U.S. has worsened to an ice point due to the over-nine-month armed conflict in Ukraine between Kiev government and the independence-seeking insurgents in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Lugansk.

Kiev and the West have been blaming Russia for escalating the violence by providing assistance to the insurgents, while Moscow kept denying the allegation, and accusing Ukraine of failing to stop the bloodshed in its country.