Moscow snubs Kiev, refuses to release Ukrainian navy sailors

MOSCOW: Russia rejected a Franco-German call to release 24 Ukrainian sailors seized during a naval clash last month, and accused the European powers of siding with the government in Kiev.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron issued the appeal in a joint statement on Friday that also criticised Russia for conducting “excessive” inspections in the Sea of Azov near Crimea that are holding up free passage of shipping.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the sailors, who are in pretrial detention on charges of illegally entering Russian territory, are being treated in accordance with the law.

The appeal by Merkel and Macron to President Vladimir Putin “can’t be a reason to change Russian law” to free anyone from responsibility, Peskov told reporters on Saturday.

The foreign ministry in Moscow said in a statement on Saturday that Russia is maintaining access to the Sea of Azov under the terms of a bilateral agreement with Ukraine, adding that it rejects “unacceptable demands” and “double standards”.

Russia fired at and seized three Ukrainian vessels last month near the Sea of Azov, a key waterway for Ukraine to export metals and agricultural products. The EU and the US condemned Russia’s action, though neither responded with new sanctions.

RUSSIA WIDENS BAN ON UKRAINIAN IMPORTS

Russia expanded a ban on imported goods from Ukraine on Saturday, saying it would halt some $500 million worth of annual imports of mainly industrial products in retaliation for economic sanctions by Kiev.

Earlier this year, Putin instructed the government to prepare a list of measures against Ukraine after Kiev announced economic sanctions on a list of Russian companies and business figures.

Relations between Ukraine and Russia went into free-fall after Moscow’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and the subsequent outbreak of a pro-Russian insurgency in eastern Donbass.

Since then, Russia has banned imports of beer, vodka, juice, wallpaper and confectionery from Ukraine.

REUTERS ■ Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in an exhibition game of the Night Hockey League at an ice rink in Red Square in Moscow on Saturday.