Russia to refrain from retaliatory moves against US, Ukraine: Putin

Moscow, March 21 (IANS/ITAR -TASS) Russia will refrain from imposing retaliatory sanctions against the US and from introducing visa rules for Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin said Friday.

"As concerns the first case - the US sanctions - and the second case - Ukraine's introduction of visa regulations, I think we should still refrain from retaliatory moves," Putin said at Russia's Security Council session here.

"First of all, I'll speak of visa rules with Ukraine. If we introduce visa regulations, millions of innocent Ukrainians who work in Russia to support their families will suffer. We don't need to do this," Putin added.

At the meeting, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov said Kiev continued making controversial statement regarding relations with Russia.

"In particular, there were statements made about either their withdrawal or suspension of participation in the Commonwealth of Independent States and intention to introduce visa regime with Russia," the head of the diplomatic service said.

The US, the European Union and several other countries have imposed sanctions against Russia because of its stance regarding the status of Crimea. The US and the EU have published black lists of Russian and Ukrainian officials, against whom personal sanctions are introduced. In particular, this refers to assets freezing.

Russia has barred a number of US politicians from entering the country and warned that the use of sanctions is a "double-edged sword" that will hit the US back.

--IANS/ITAR-TASS

vr/dg