Russia says US sanctions vote ‘step towards destroying’ better ties

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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov leaves at the end of a press conference on June 28, 2014 in Damascus during an official visit in the Syrian capital. “Russia will not stand idle” toward the offensive of militants, led by the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), declared Ryabkov. /AFP /

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — An overwhelming vote by the United States House of Representatives to slap tough new sanctions on Moscow is a “serious step” towards wrecking chances of improving ties, Russia’s deputy foreign minister said Wednesday.

“The authors and sponsors of this bill are taking a very serious step towards destroying the possibilities for normalizing relations with Russia,” Sergei Ryabkov told state-run TASS news agency.

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