Stoltenberg welcomed the extension of sanctions against Russia
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg supports the sentence imposed by the European Union regarding Russia, and welcomes the extension. "I support the punishment of the EU against Russia, and I welcome their extension because they reaffirm the unacceptability of Russia's actions in Ukraine," Stoltenberg said in the beginning of the meeting of defense Ministers of the Commonwealth on Wednesday in Brussels." I believe that economic sanctions affect the Russian economy. NATO has provided a deterrent, and I am sure that all of these actions together contribute to Russia's position Earlier or later changed, and that Russia realized that it's better to cooperate than to compete with NATO, " added the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, reports news Agency. While Stoltenberg said that NATO is not seeking confrontation and the arms race with Russia, continues to work on creating collaborative relationships. Before the first day of the week the President's press Secretary Dmitry Peskov called the extension of EU sanctions against Russia are unfounded and illegal. Prime Minister of Russia Medvedev D. A. ordered the chief of the government staff Sergei Prikhodko to prepare proposals on the introduction of retaliatory restrictive measures in connection with the extension of sanctions from the EU. The ruble has not responded to the renewal of the punishment - dollar and Euro against the ruble continued reduction of capital exchange. On the first day of the week, the EU Council formally extended punishment against Russia for another six months, until 31 January 2016. In addition, last Friday the Council of the European Union officially confirmed the extension of economic sanctions on Crimea and Sevastopol until June 23, 2016. Remember, the European Union since 1 August 2014 imposed economic penalties against Russia, which were expanded in September 2014. Under the penalties were Russian-owned banks and oil industry. In the framework of the measures was limited access to EU capital markets for a number of Russian organizations. In addition, were banned the supply of equipment and services for deepwater exploration and production of oil, work in the Arctic and in the shale oil in Russia. The EU also took penalties on defense sector in Russia and banned European companies to supply products of dual use of nine Russian companies.