Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov expressed disgust on Monday at the US announcement of sanctions against Russian officials and companies linked to President Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine crisis, the Interfax news agency reported.
"The statement by the White House press secretary about the sanctions prompts disgust," Ryabkov was quoted as saying. He said it "demonstrates a complete lack of understanding among our colleagues in Washington about what is happening in Ukraine".
The White House said the seven Russians, who include Igor Sechin, head of Russia's major oil company Rosneft and a close ally of Putin, are now subject to a freeze on any assets they hold in the United States and a ban on U.S. travel.
In addition, the United States will deny export license applications for any high-technology items that could contribute to Russian military capabilities. The Commerce and State Departments will revoke any existing export licenses that meet these conditions, the White House said.
It was the third round of sanctions that the United States has imposed over Russia's intervention in the Crimea region and troop buildup near the border with Ukraine. All of the sanctions have been aimed at specific individuals and businesses.
The other people named were Oleg Belavencev, Sergei Chemezov, Dmitry Kozak, Evgeniy Murov, Aleksei Pushkov and Vyacheslav Volodin.
President Barack Obama has made clear, however, that should Russia launch a military move deeper into Ukraine, the United States will slap sanctions on key sectors of the Russian economy, such as the financial services, energy, metals and mining, engineering and defense sectors.
The White House said the latest round of sanctions was in reaction to Russian failure to meet its commitments under a mid-April agreement to de-escalate the crisis.
"Russia's involvement in the recent violence in eastern Ukraine is indisputable," a White House statement said.
REUTERS