E.U.'s decision to expand anti-Russia sanctions 'verdict in favour of U.S.': Moscow

Moscow [Russia], August 5 (ANI): The chairman of the Russian upper chamber of parliament's foreign affairs committee, Konstantin Kosachev, has said that the European Union's decision to expand sanctions against Russia over the row with Siemens gas turbines deliveries to Crimea works in the favour of the United States, Sputnik International reports. "The EU decision on expanding sanctions against Russia over alleged supplies of Siemens gas turbines to Crimea is a verdict, first of all, in favour of the United States," Kosachev said, adding that Moscow reserved the right to respond to E.U. anti-Russia sanctions extension. The lawmaker also said that Germany's active role in promoting the E.U. decision to expand sanctions and "an attempt to demonstrate its loyalty" to the Unites States, seemed "confusing," Sputnik International reports. Earlier in the day, the E.U. imposed additional sanctions on Moscow over a scandal surrounding the transfer of turbines supplied by German company Siemens to the Russian peninsula of Crimea in violation of previous Brussels' sanctions. The E.U. added three Russian nationals and three companies to its sanctions list over the issue. Siemens had created a task force team in early July to investigate reports about the alleged transfer of turbines produced by Siemens Gas Turbines Technologies, a joint venture with the Russian Power Machines company, to the Crimean peninsula. (ANI)