Russia's embassy in London said Britain's new package of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine was "illegitimate" and many of those targeted had no connection to the conflict.

Earlier, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the package would be Britain's largest against Russia since the early days of the Ukraine war, including more measures against vessels used to help Russia evade sanctions and targeting companies in China and elsewhere who supply military components.

Speaking in an interview just days after returning from Moscow, Thomas Graham, a veteran Russia expert who previously served on the White House National Security Council, also said that any hopes by the current U.

Russia wants a long-term peace deal over Ukraine that tackles what it regards as the root causes of the conflict and not a quick U.S.-backed ceasefire followed by a swift restart of fighting, a senior Russian diplomat told the RIA news agency.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has stated in an interview conducted for Russian propaganda media outlets that Russia wants a long-term peace agreement on Ukraine that addresses the "root causes of the conflict" rather than a quick US-backed ceasefire followed by a quick resumption of hostilities.