Russia: fresh US sanctions show Washington is deepening confrontation

New US sanctions against Russia show that Washington wants to aggravate tensions with Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

"Such provocation moves not only destroy Russia-US relations but also do not help cooperation on resolving other global issues. Of course, such a move would not be left without reaction," the statement said.

The United States imposed further Russia and Ukraine-related sanctions on Thursday, adding associates of a billionaire Russian gas trader, Crimean port operators and former Ukrainian officials to its list of those it is penalising in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine.