Ukraine conflict: Russia rebuffs new Canadian sanctions as 'awkward'

Russia has rebuffed Canada's new sanctionsagainst Moscow, calling them an "awkwardattempt" to prevent implementation of the eastern Ukrainian ceasefire agreement.

"Wehope that Ottawa will reconsider the consequences of its actions that continue to fuel further military confrontation in Ukraine, and will realise that sanction-oriented pressure on Russia is futile," the Russian Foreign Ministrysaid in a statement issued Wednesday.

"Canada's stake on sanctions will of course not remain unanswered," said Alexander Lukashevich, the official representative.

On Tuesday, in response to what Prime Minister Stephen Harper calledthe "escalated acts of aggression" by Russian-backed fighters in Eastern Ukraine,Canada announced travel bans against 37 Russian and Ukrainian individuals and economic sanctions against 17 Russian and Ukrainian entities, including leadingRussian oil firm NK Rosneft OAO.

"Canada's position remains clear: We recognize the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,and will never recognize the illegal Russian occupation of any part of the country," Harper said in a statement.

• Ukraine conflict: Government forces retreat from contested railroad town

Canada has made about a dozen such announcements since the Russian military began to intervene in the conflict in Eastern Ukraine in February 2014.

The Ukraineceasefire dealwent into effect on Sunday, but heavy fighting continued in the embattled rail hub ofDebaltseve.

However,Ukraine's president said Wednesday he had ordered troops to pull out of the town, while Russian-backed separatists said they had taken hundreds of prisoners.