Kremlin: New EU sanctions targeting doctors, rights activists 'absurd'

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Moscow slams the new EU sanctions list as "absurd", as it targets doctors and human rights activists who are not involved in the Ukraine war, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov pointed out on Monday.

On Saturday, the European Union published its 10th package of sanctions targeting 87 Russian nationals and 34 entities over the conflict in Ukraine.

Peskov said the EU seems to be adding everyone to the sanctions list, adding, "it is clear that they are including people at random to the sanctions — people who are completely unrelated to any sanctions topic, just for the sake of forming some new lists."

Read more: EU sanctions 96 Firms in Russia, bans RT Arabic, Sputnik Arabic

Kremlin paying great attention to China's plan on Ukraine

In a related context, the Kremlin Spokesperson indicated that Moscow is paying great attention to China's peace plan for Ukraine, stressing that the plan's details should be subject to careful analysis.

Last week, the Chinese Foreign Ministry released a 12-point position paper on the situation in Ukraine. The fourth point, devoted to the peace process in Ukraine, stressed that dialogue and negotiations are "the only viable solution to the Ukraine crisis."

Beijing also pointed to the need to create conditions and provide a platform for the resumption of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

"Any attempts to develop plans that will help switch the conflict to a peaceful course deserve attention. We treat the plan of our Chinese friends with such great attention. As for the details, of course, the details should be subject to careful analysis, taking into account the interests of the parties very different. This is a very lengthy and stressful process," Peskov told reporters.

At the same time, the Russian official considered that the conditions for a peaceful resolution of the conflict were not in place "at the moment."

He continued, "For now, we don't see any of the conditions that are needed to bring this whole story towards peace."

Read more: China urges Russia, Ukraine to hold talks, warns against using nukes

Situation around Transnistria cause for concern: Kremlin

Elsewhere, Peskov underscored that the situation around the breakaway region of Transnistria is a subject of the greatest attention for Moscow and cause for concern, pointing out that the matter is provoked from the outside.

Last week, the Russian Defense Ministry said Kiev had intensified preparations for the invasion of Transnistria, which poses a threat to Russian peacekeepers, adding that the Russian military will respond to this in an adequate manner.

"Naturally, the situation in Transnistria is a subject of our closest attention and a reason for our concern. The situation is turbulent, it is provoked from outside," the Kremlin Spokesperson told reporters.

The West and Ukraine are capable of provocations, and Moscow is aware of this, he added.

Read more: Kiev preparing armed provocation against Transnistria: Russian MoD