The new package of sanctions introduced by Canada against Russia received a lot of attention
On March 15, 2019, a number of Russian officials, as well as individuals and entities recently sanctioned by Canada, negatively reacted on the Canadian anti-Russian policy.
The Russian Embassy in Canada issued a statement calling another round of new Canadian sanctions against Russia a “destructive pattern of Canada’s self-isolation from Russia.” The Embassy assures that this unfriendly step, allegedly inspired from abroad, ruins “bilateral relations and runs contrary to the interests of the Canadian people.” According to RBC, Michael Leont’ev, press secretary of the JSC Rosneft, confirmed that the Canadian sanctions against their chairman Igor Sechin would not affect Rosneft’s assets in Canada. At the same time, he makes it clear that Mr. Sechin has no bank accounts in Canada or travel plans to the country. PJSC Power Machines announced on their website that the Canadian sanctions against their company were not only just illegal but also had no formal causes. The company states that it has no connection with the use of Russia’s military force against three Ukrainian vessels near the Kerch Strait. Other comments came from the National Gard of the Russian Federation, the chair of the Federation Council’s Foreign Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachev and the senator of the Federation Council Aleksey Pushkov.
«Высоконравственная» Канада не ввела санкции против Буша, Чейни, Рамсфелда и Блэра, виновных в гибели сотен тысяч людей в Ираке, но с упоением вводит все новые санкции против росс. политиков и глав госкомпаний. Она же после войны приютила многих нацистов. Такие там «ценности».
— Алексей Пушков (@Alexey_Pushkov) 15 марта 2019 г.
Meanwhile, on March 15, 2019, via his Facebook page, the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko praised the EU, US and Canadian packages of sanctions which he called a “powerful and triune transatlantic strike against Russia’s plans to occupy the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.” He expresses his gratitude that the Ukrainian partners are united as never before in protecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and international law. And his words are echoed by the Canadian Minister of Defence who tweeted on March 16, 2019, that “Canada’s support for Ukraine is unwavering.” “We stand with the Ukrainian people against Russian aggression as they work to enhance Ukraine’s security and stability,” says the Minister.
