国际英语新闻:Moscow warns to respond to EU sanctions against Crimea

MOSCOW, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Ministry warned on Thursday that Moscow would adequately respond to "discriminatory" EU sanctions imposed on Crimea if necessary.

"We would like to remind the EU about our lawful right to adequately respond to its so-called restrictive measures against all Russian individuals and legal entities without exception," the ministry said in a statement.

It's time that EU officials in Brussels realize that Crimea and Sevastopol have become an inalienable part of the Russian Federation, RIA Novosti news agency, a leading Russian multimedia group, quoted the ministry as saying.

"Any kind of discrimination against residents of Crimea and Sevastopol for politicized reasons is unacceptable," the ministry stressed.

The EU earlier in the day imposed "substantial" additional sanctions on investment, services and trade with Crimea and Sevastopol, saying investment in Crimea or Sevastopol is outlawed from Dec. 20.

The fresh sanctions mean that Europeans and EU-based companies may no more buy real estate or entities in Crimea, finance Crimean companies or supply related services.

These measures add to an import ban on goods from Crimea and Sevastopol, imposed in June, as well as restrictions introduced in July on trade and investment related to certain economic sectors and infrastructure projects.

Earlier in the day, Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said in an interview with Vedomosti business daily that it is very likely that sanctions against Russia would be tightened in 2015, bringing long-term negative effects.

He added that restrictions on finance and banks are supposed to weaken gradually, while technological sanctions such as the ban of equipment import would still harm Russian economy.