Russia calls new sanctions on Crimea "collective punishment"

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev attend a meeting of the Security Council at the Russian defense control center in Moscow, December 19, 2014. REUTERS/Alexei Druzhinin/RIA Novosti/Kremlin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday new Western sanctions against Ukraine's Crimea region were a "collective punishment" on residents who voted last March to join Russia, adding it was preparing to retaliate.

Both the European Union and United States adopted tighter restrictions on investments in Crimea this week, targeting individuals, Russian Black Sea oil and gas exploration and tourism.