Russia Denounces European, American Threats of Ukraine Sanctions

Says they are equivalent to blackmail

MOSCOW — Russia on Thursday denounced moves by the United States and Europe to impose sanctions on Ukrainian officials following the eruption of violence in the capital, Kiev, and other cities, saying they amounted to blackmail against the government of President Viktor F. Yanukovych.

Russia's foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, also criticized a visit by the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Poland, saying the European Union had dispatched its "latest uninvited mission" to Ukraine's capital, Kiev, to impose a solution by forcing Mr. Yanukovych to compromise.