(VOVworld) – On Tuesday the US Treasury Department added on Tuesday nearly three dozen people and companies to its sanctions list for directly or indirectly connecting to the conflict in eastern Ukraine and the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (Photo: Mikhail Klimentyev/Russian president's press service/TASS )

Individuals and organizations on the list will have their accounts blocked and be banned from conducting transactions with US citizens and companies.

The Kremlin reacted swiftly to the December 22 announcement, calling it unfriendly and vowed to take countermeasures.

Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary for the Russian President, said Moscow believes US actions will undermine bilateral relations.

Peskov told Russian news agencies that Moscow is considering what countermeasures it will take in response to the expanded US list.