St. PETERSBURG, 17 Jun - RIA Novosti/Prime. The head of Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin called masochism decision of Europe to extend economic sanctions against Russia.

earlier on Wednesday, Reuters reported citing sources informed that the permanent Plenipotentiaries of the member countries of the EU approved the extension of economic sanctions against Russia by six months until the end of January 2016. A source close to the leadership of the EU, told Last news that a formal opinion on the extension of the economic sanctions of the EU against Russia will be made on the first day of the week, June 22, at the Council of EU foreign Ministers.

"I have always said, and now can say it again: Europe is engaged in a masochism. Their own business community demands the cessation (sanctions - ed.) but they don't have the opportunity to oppose the political pressure that comes from abroad ", - said the Head of Russian Railways Last news on Wednesday when asked to comment on the decision of the permanent representatives of EU countries to extend the punishment.

Yakunin presented data according to which, in the past year, the decline in trade between Europe and Russia was 20%, and for five months of the current year exceeded 30%." Despite the fact that trade With the Americans increased by 10% in the past year ", - noted the head of the Railways.

The term of the current package of EU sanctions expire on June 23. The head of Russian Railways is placed in the sanctions lists of the USA and Australia.


Western countries Since March 2014 several times already imposed penalties because Russia's position on Ukraine. The last case of the use of such practices were the limits imposed in March 2015, when expanded sanctions List of the USA. In addition, the summit "the Big seven" in Bavaria it was decided to extend the punishment against Russia, and the United States considering the introduction of a new.

The list of Russian citizens and organizations who have fallen under the punishment - in the material of the Fins news

sections: Politics