EU to Further Impose Sanctions Against Russia Over Crimea - Mogherini

The European Union will continue to impose sanctions against Moscow over the reunification of Crimea with Russia, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement Friday.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — In March 2014, 96 percent of Crimean residents who voted in a referendum on seceding from Ukraine and joining Russia backed the move. The Kiev government and Western countries have not recognized the legitimacy of the vote, imposing several rounds of sanctions on Russia over what they label the "annexation" of Crimea.

"The European Union remains committed to fully implementing its non-recognition policy, including through restrictive measures. The EU calls again on UN Member States to consider similar non-recognition measures in line with the UNGA Resolution 68/262 [on the Territorial Integrity of Ukraine]," the statement reads.

Moscow has refuted the allegations, asserting that the referendum was held in accordance with international law and warning that the Western sanctions are counterproductive. In response to the West's restrictive measures, Russia announced a food embargo on products originating in states that imposed sanctions against it.

The Western sanctions against Russia target whole sections of the Russian economy, including the banking, energy and defense sectors.