New anti-Russian sanctions show outgoing US

New sanctions against Russia by Washington reflect the "inadequacy" of outgoing President Barack Obama, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Tuesday.

"The inadequacy of Washington's leaders, who have fallen into a sanctions mania, is obvious to all," Ryabkov told RIA Novosti news agency.

On Monday, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions against five Russian nationals for alleged violations of the 2012 Magnitsky Act, freezing their assets and baring them from travelling in the United States.

According to Ryabkov, the White House showed "unworthy vengeance" with the sanctions, and the Obama administration in the remaining 10 days in office could take more steps to obstruct the work of the new president Donald Trump.

He added that the Obama administration experienced "anger for its candidate's loss in the presidential election and the desire to seek out those responsible for the defeat anywhere, but not at home."

The U.S. intelligence community, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Security Agency, has recently published a report alleging Russia's involvement in activities, including hacker attacks, aimed at promoting Trump to the presidency. Washington expelled 35 Russian diplomats last month.

The Kremlin had rejected such accusations and expressed Tuesday its readiness to further cooperate with the United States.

"The sanctions remain an element which affects our bilateral relations extremely negatively, but at the same time even in conditions of sanctions, without doubt, Moscow would welcome and be ready for any opportunities for dialogue," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

Source:Xinhua