"Another extension by the European Union of the illegitimate from the viewpoint of international law anti-Russia sectoral economic sanctions until January 31, 2017, is perceived as an extension of Brussels’ short-sighted policy," the ministry said.
Moscow deems it "absurd to link these discriminatory measures against Russia, which is not a party to the internal Ukrainian conflict, with the implementation of the Minsk agreements by it."
"In effect, the European Union has with its own hands held Russian-EU relations hostage to the irresponsible games of the Ukrainian authorities," the press service said.
Moreover, the bloc risks permanently losing a range of key Russian market segments with its extension of sanctions, the Ministry’s press service added.
"Given the diversification of our economic policy, the EU risks permanently losing in the long term a number of Russian market segments important to it," the ministry said in response to the Council of the European Union's decision published earlier in the day.
At the same time, the ministry observed "positive effects on our economy, which adapts to the regime of restrictive measures, reducing financial, economic and technological dependence on EU countries."
