Russia's ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, warned of 'counter steps' after being summoned by bloc leaders hours before a raft of economic sanctions were sealed at an emergency Brussels summit on Thursday night.
European External Action Service High Representative Josep Borrell announced the diplomatic dressing-down amid condemnation from national and EU leaders, but Chizhov's retaliation was as swift as it was cold.
"The Russian side stressed the illegitimate and unsubstantiated nature of such unilateral measures which can only worsen the already dire situation in Russia – EU relations," the ambassador said in a late-night statement to media.
"The partners were warned that such a line would inevitably be met with counter steps from the Russian side," he added.
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After insisting a fortnight ago that there would be no attack on Ukraine this month, Chizhov had been warned on Thursday to expect severe sanctions imposed by EU leaders.
In his last public comments, in an interview with German daily Die Welt, Chizhov had quipped that European wars rarely begin on Wednesdays. This one did.
