The latest U.S. sanctions against Russia are a violation of World Trade Organization rules that may force Moscow into a destabilizing trade dispute, Russia's ambassador told the Geneva-based trade body on Thursday.

"It looks like we are being forced to seek the protection of our legitimate rights and interests through the WTO mechanisms," Ambassador Gennady Ovechko said. "Thus, the U.S. actions might cause the unfortunate chain of events that would ultimately undermine the credibility of the multilateral trading system."