MOSCOW— Russia’s foreign minister struck a defiant note Monday after Western leaders threatened to further punish Moscow for escalated fighting in eastern Ukraine over the weekend.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told journalists that rocket shelling Saturday in the city of Mariupol, which left at least 30 people dead, was a tragedy that was being manipulated to “whip up anti-Russian hysteria” in the West.
The ruble tumbled by almost 3 percent on news of more possible sanctions against Russia, dropping to 65.5 to the dollar from 63.7.
Lavrov blamed Kiev for the uptick in violence, and said that the rebels were only responding …read more
Source: The Epoch Times
