Nepal, July 18 -- Moscow downplayed on Friday the impact of fresh European Union sanctions on Russia's economy, saying they were "illegal" and would backfire.

Brussels agreed its 18th package of sanctions on Russia over Moscow's military offensive on Ukraine, targeting Russian banks and lowering a price cap on oil exports.

"We will certainly analyse the new package in order to minimise its impact," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, including AFP, on a briefing call.

"But every new package adds to the negative effect on the very countries that join in on them."

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