Russia: US Revives “Iron Curtain” policies in Ukraine showdown

Russia accused US of bringing back “Iron Curtain” policies in the showdown over Ukraine on Tuesday, as the west imposed new sanctions against key figures including Moscow’s military chief.

The Russian foreign ministry warned the sanctions were “absolutely counterproductive” and were driving the crisis towards “a dead end”.

A Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, tore into the United States for leading the sanctions charge on Monday, especially for its decision to curb hi-tech exports to Russia that could have military uses.

“All of that is a blow to our high-tech enterprises and industries,” Ryabkov said in an interview with online newspaper Gazeta.ru.

“This is a revival of a system created in 1949 when Western countries essentially lowered an ‘Iron Curtain’, cutting off supplies of high-tech goods to the USSR and other countries.”

Russia’s foreign ministry also slammed the European Union for “doing Washington’s bidding with new unfriendly gestures towards Russia”.

The EU on Tuesday revealed that General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff of Russia’s armed forces and the country’s deputy defence minister, was one of 15 Russians and Ukrainians targeted by a new asset freeze and travel ban.

The EU’s top foreign policy official, Catherine Ashton, announced the measure in a statement expressing alarm at “the downward spiral of violence and intimidation” in Ukraine.

The EU blacklist was part of a Group of Seven sanctions assault against Moscow led by Washington on Monday, when the White House slapped sanctions on seven Russian officials and 17 companies close to President Vladimir Putin.

Canada has targeted nine people and two banks, while Japan said it was denying visas to 23 targeted Russians.

Russia has vowed “painful” retaliation against Washington for the coordinated sanctions.
“We already have something and something will be introduced shortly,” said Ryabkov.