Moscow says it will respond to new U.S., Canadian measures:
The Russian Foreign Ministry says Moscow plans to work out measures in response to new U.S. and Canadian sanctions against Russia.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich said on December 20 that "we recommend that Washington and Ottawa think about consequences of such actions. And we will explore response measures."
U.S. President Barack Obama on December 18 signed legislation implementing new sanctions on Russia over its activities in Ukraine but said that he would not use the authority at this time.
The legislation authorizes new sanctions against Russia's defense and energy industries, including the arms exporter Rosoboroneksport, and investors in its high-tech oil projects.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on December 18 announced another round of economic and travel sanctions on 20 Russian and pro-Russia Ukrainians, as well as measures against the country’s oil and gas industry. (Interfax and AFP)
Here's today's map of the situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council:
Moscow calls on Paris to decide on ships' delivery:
Moscow has called on Paris to decide by the end of the year whether it will deliver two Mistral-class warships.
Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov told Interfax on December 20, "It doesn't matter if the calendar shows December 31, 2014 or January 1, 2015, but we are waiting for France's decision."
He also said Russia will gladly take back the money it paid for the warships, whose handover has been delayed by concerns over Moscow's role in the Ukraine crisis.
The agreement for the helicopter carriers worth 1.2 billion euros was signed before Moscow's annexation of Crimea and support of the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Paris has so far delayed delivery of the first warship, which was set for fall of 2014, "until further notice." (Interfax)