The EU has recently published the additional list of Russian officials, individuals and companies, which now will be affected by the sanctions imposed by the European Union on Russia in response to its policy towards Ukraine.
Such large oil companies as Gazpromneft, Rosneft and Transneft have been included on the list.
The United States has followed its European allies and has also introduced sanctions against these companies as well as against Russian gas-producing monopoly Gazprom, private oil company LUKOIL and the Surgutneftegaz oil and gas company.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned the move as "hostile."
Deputy Director of the CIS Institute and member of the National Strategy Council Vladimir Zharikhin believes that the sanctions will damage the European and American economies as well.
"Europe is in fact afraid of Russia, but it is even more afraid of the United States. That's the problem," he said.
