Moscow, Russia – Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, today slammed the European Union’s latest sanctions package against her country, calling it “dictatorial behavior” that will ultimately hurt the EU more than Russia.
In a scathing statement, Zakharova accused the EU of manipulating its internal processes to push through “legally questionable and politicized decisions,” such as granting pre-accession status to Ukraine and Moldova while simultaneously imposing another round of sanctions on Russia.
“This package, like all the previous ones, will cause bigger harm to the European Union itself,” she declared. “This dictatorial behavior reveals in all its magnitude that the member states are denied their democratic right to a dissenting opinion and the protection of their own interests.”
Zakharova’s remarks come on the heels of a recent EU summit, where leaders approved the bloc’s ninth sanctions package targeting Russia over its ongoing military action in Ukraine. The package includes restrictions on trade, finance, and technology, among other measures.
While the EU intends for these sanctions to pressure Russia into ending the conflict, Zakharova argues they will instead backfire, causing economic hardship for European citizens already grappling with rising energy costs and inflation.
“This is a Pyrrhic victory for Brussels,” she concluded. “They may score some symbolic points, but the real pain will be felt by European families and businesses.”